ECHR begins examination of six complaints by Ukrainian cash-in-hand couriers against Hungary

Strasbourg court accepts complaints for examination

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has officially opened proceedings in six cases filed by Ukrainian cash-in-hand couriers against Hungary. The Court's Secretariat sent the applicants confirmation of the registration of their lawsuits and the assignment of official case numbers. The applications were submitted on 5 July 2026. This was reported by the press service of Oschadbank.

The information regarding the examination of the cases concerns facts of unlawful detention and the application of torture. It is expected that a similar procedure will be followed for the seventh applicant, whose complaint is based on the same circumstances and violations of the norms of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Significance of the registration of lawsuits

Receiving an official letter from the ECHR Secretariat regarding the registration of the application and providing access to the eComms electronic communication system is a key procedural step. According to the Court's statistics, the majority of applications are rejected at the initial screening stage due to formal errors or being declared inadmissible.

The acceptance of the complaint and the opening of proceedings indicate the presence of a well-founded legal position, the legal prospects of the case, and the Court's intention to examine it on the merits.

Comment from bank management

«Ми і надалі будемо послідовно відстоювати інтереси наших співробітників та захищати не лише права людей, а й репутацію державного фінансового інституту, що діє виключно в межах міжнародного права. Офіційне повідомлення ЄСПЛ про відкриття провадження демонструє, що системна правова позиція, дипломатична підтримка та непохитність у захисті національних інтересів дають результат навіть у найскладніших міжнародних ситуаціях. Ми щиро вдячні всім партнерам за підтримку у відстоюванні законних інтересів державного банку та наших фахівців» (We will continue to consistently defend the interests of our employees and protect not only human rights but also the reputation of a state financial institution that operates exclusively within the framework of international law. The official ECHR notification regarding the opening of proceedings demonstrates that a systematic legal position, diplomatic support, and steadfastness in defending national interests yield results even in the most complex international situations. We are sincerely grateful to all partners for their support in defending the legitimate interests of the state bank and our specialists), — Yuriy Katsion, Chairman of the Board of Oschadbank, commented on the situation.

Violated articles of the Convention

The complaints concern gross violations of the rights of Ukrainian citizens by the competent authorities of Hungary. Specifically, they refer to:

• Article 3 of the Convention (prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment);
• Article 5 of the Convention (right to liberty and security of person, prohibition of unlawful detention).

Currently, the examination of the cases is at the initial written stage.