O dopuszczalności wznowienia postępowania karnego z powodu orzeczenia Europejskiego Trybunału Praw Człowieka stwierdzającego naruszenie praw człowieka w podobnej sprawie

Abstract

The article focuses on the interpretation of Article 540 § 3 of the Polish Code of Criminal Procedure. Pursuant to this provision, criminal proceedings may be reopened if such a need transpires in the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. The question is whether this provision may serve as a legal basis for the reopening of criminal proceedings in cases other than the case subject to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. The prevailing opinion in the literature, is that the re-opening of other cases outside the main case (assessed by Strasbourg Court) is possible. In this article the Author expresses the opposite opinion. She relies mainly on Article 46 para. 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the limited (inter partes) binding force of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights delivered in an individual case.