CYPRUS v. TURKEY JUDGMENT
77
322. The Commission recalled its conclusion in respect of the applicant
Government's complaint under Article 6 of the Convention (see
paragraphs 230-32 above) as well as its decision to consider the issue of
whether an effective remedy within the meaning of former Article 26 could
be considered to exist in respect of the different allegations advanced by the
applicant Government (see paragraphs 86-88 above). With that in mind, the
Commission concluded that there had been no violation of Article 13 in
respect of interferences by private persons with the rights of Greek Cypriots
living in northern Cyprus under Articles 8 of the Convention and Article 1
of Protocol No. 1, whereas there had been a violation of Article 13 in
respect of interferences by the authorities with their rights under Articles 3,
8, 9, and 10 of the Convention and Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No. 1.
323. The Court agrees with the Commission's conclusion. It recalls that
it has analysed in respect of the various allegations advanced by the
applicant Government whether the persons concerned had available to them
remedies which were sufficiently certain not only in theory but also in
practice and whether there were any special circumstances which might be
considered to absolve them from the requirement to exhaust them (see
paragraph 99 above). In so doing, the Court has had regard to the burden of
proof and how it is distributed between the parties in respect of the
exhaustion rule (see paragraph 116 above). In the absence of the respondent
Government in the proceedings before it, the Court has had especial regard
to the oral and written evidence adduced in the case and has taken due
account of the applicant Government's submissions raising points and
evidence on which they disagree with the Commission's findings, including
the existence of domestic remedies.
324. Notwithstanding the applicant Government's objections to certain
of the Commission's conclusions, the Court is led to reaffirm on the
evidence its earlier conclusions, which, it recalls, reflect those of the
Commission. These are summarised below.
Firstly, the Court finds that no violation of Article 13 of the Convention
has been established in respect of interferences by private persons with the
rights of Greek Cypriots living in northern Cyprus under Article 8 of the
Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1. It recalls in this respect that it
has not been shown on the evidence that during the period under
consideration there was an administrative practice on the part of the
“TRNC” authorities of condoning acts of criminality against the homes and
property of the enclaved Greek-Cypriot population; nor has it been shown to
the same standard of proof that there was an administrative practice of
denying aggrieved persons access to a court to assert rights in this
connection. In the proceedings before the Commission, the respondent
Government produced evidence in support of their contention that court
remedies were available and highlighted the successful claims brought by a
number of Greek-Cypriot litigants. While observing that neither Article 6