Sinistaj

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France. Photo: EPA-EFE/PATRICK SEEGER

"The court finds that a period exceeding four years and three months to decide on a case such as an applicant's, and in particular in view of what was at stake for him, was excessive and failed to meet the 'reasonable time' requirement," the Strasbourg-based rights court's ruling said.