The European Court of Human Rights Condemns Spain once again

The European Court of Human Rights yesterday condemned the Spanish State for for not admitting writ of protection of Basque political prisoners. The Spanish so called Constitutional Court has once again failed to accept amparo appeals from Ismael Berasategui and Rufino Arriaga, who requested that the sentence served in France to reduce his sentence in Spain.

As a year ago with Francisco Múgica Garmendia and two other basque political prisoners the Strasbourg Court concluded that Ismael Berasategui Escudero and Rufino Arriga Arruabarrena “have suffered at least a lack of legal certainty.” The ECHR has reiterated its endorsement that in Spain the penalties served in France are not counted. In addition, it did not grant any of the compensation requested by both ETAs for moral damages and expenses and fees.