ECtHR: Kulák v. Slovakia (Application no. 57748/21, 3 April 2025)

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment in Kulák v. Slovakia addresses critical deficiencies in the Slovak criminal procedure, namely the protection of legal professional privilege during searches and seizures of electronic data. The case arose from a 2020 warrantless search of a lawyer’...

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Veröffentlicht in:Bratislava law review (Online) Jg. 9; H. 1
Hauptverfasser: Igor Hron, Zuzana Mlkvá Illýová
Format: Journal Article
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Law 01.07.2025
Schlagworte:
Article 8 ECHR
Ex Post Factum Judicial Review
Private Life
Professional Privilege
Search of Law Firm
Seizure of Computer Data
ISSN:2585-7088, 2644-6359
Online-Zugang:Volltext
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Zusammenfassung:The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment in Kulák v. Slovakia addresses critical deficiencies in the Slovak criminal procedure, namely the protection of legal professional privilege during searches and seizures of electronic data. The case arose from a 2020 warrantless search of a lawyer’s office, where authorities seized the applicant’s entire work computer under an emergency provision. The ECtHR ruled that Slovakia’s reliance on prosecutorial oversight – rather than independent judicial review –failed to meet standards under Article 8 ECHR. This commentary begins by examining the factual background of the case and legal findings of the ECtHR. Subsequently, it evaluates the broader impact of the Kulák judgment and identifies remaining gaps and potential implications for other Council of Europe member states, advocating for independent oversight, and timely judicial remedies to uphold the rule of law.
ISSN:2585-7088
2644-6359
DOI:10.46282/blr.2025.9.1.1020