Ruja and Others v. Romania

FOURTH SECTION

Application no. 41188/23 Adrian-Sebastian RUJA against Romania and 59 other applications (see appended table)

The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting on 18 December 2025 as a Committee composed of:

Anne Louise Bormann , President , Sebastian Răduleţu, András Jakab , judges ,

and Viktoriya Maradudina, Acting Deputy Section Registrar,

Having regard to the above applications lodged on the various dates indicated in the appended table,

Having deliberated, decides as follows:

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

The list of applicants and the relevant information is set out in the appended table.

The applicants complained under Article 3 of the Convention about the inadequate conditions of their detention (see the appended table for details).

THE LAW

Having regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single decision.

Having examined all the material before it, the Court considers that, for the reasons stated below, the applicants’ complaints under Article 3 of the Convention about poor conditions of their ongoing detention are inadmissible.

The Court recalls that in Văscăuțanu v. Romania (dec.), no. 10120/23, §§ 47–59, 18 November 2025, it held that the remedy, which consists of lodging a complaint with the judge responsible for supervising the deprivation of liberty ( plângerea în fața judecătorului de supraveghere a privării de libertate ), provided for by Article 56 of Law no. 254/2013, has constituted, as of 6 April 2023, an effective remedy enabling individuals who allege that they are being held in inadequate conditions of detention to put an end to their situation that they denounced as being contrary to Article 3 of the Convention.

In light of all the material in its possession, the Court observes that the applicants, who allege that they are being held in inadequate conditions of detention, did not indicate that they had pursued the available remedy before the domestic courts (see Văscăuțanu , cited above, § 65).

In view of the above, the Court finds that the applicants’ complaints concerning the periods set out in the appended table must be rejected for failure to exhaust the domestic remedy laid down in Article 56 of Law no. 254/2013, in accordance with Article 35 §§ 1 and 4 of the Convention.

Some applicants also raised other complaints under various Convention provisions.

The Court has examined the applications listed in the appended table and considers that, in the light of all the material in its possession and in so far as the matters complained of are within its competence, these complaints either do not meet the admissibility criteria set out in Articles 34 and 35 of the Convention or do not disclose any appearance of a violation of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Convention or the Protocols thereto.

It follows that this part of the applications must be rejected in accordance with Article 35 § 4 of the Convention.

For these reasons, the Court, unanimously,

Decides to join the applications;

Declares the applications inadmissible.

Done in English and notified in writing on 29 January 2026.

Viktoriya Maradudina Anne Louise Bormann Acting Deputy Registrar President

APPENDIX

List of applications raising complaints under Article 3 of the Convention

(inadequate conditions of detention)

No.

Application no.

Date of introduction

Applicant’s name

Year of birth

Representative’s name and location

Facility

Start and end date

Duration

41188/23

15/12/2023

Adrian-Sebastian RUJA

1989

Arad Prison

18/02/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 14 day(s)

41661/23

21/02/2024

Cătălin VASILIU

1967

Vasiliu Cristian

Motca

Giurgiu, Poarta Albă, Tulcea and Slobozia Prisons

10/06/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 22 day(s)

43003/23

04/12/2023

Ştefan RUJAN

1980

Giurgiu and Poarta Albă Prisons

06/09/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 26 day(s)

43031/23

12/01/2024

Daniel-Vasile GORGA

2000

Iași and Vaslui Prisons

21/12/2022

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 11 day(s)

43091/23

06/12/2023

Ionuţ-Bogdan RĂDUCEL

1990

Târgu Jiu, Aiud, Oradea

04/04/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 28 day(s)

4582/24

05/02/2024

Cornel OPREA

1970

Argeș, Vâlcea, Pitești and Slatina County Police Stations; Mioveni Prison

27/07/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 23 day(s)

4671/24

31/01/2024

Ovidiu VASILE

1994

Gherla, Bistrița and Oradea Prisons

22/07/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 28 day(s)

4692/24

01/02/2024

Cătălin DENEȘ

1980

Bistrița Prison

22/09/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 28 day(s)

5533/24

14/02/2024

Mihai SOLYOM

1981

Oradea and Satu Mare Prisons; Dej Prison Hospital

28/03/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 22 day(s)

6844/24

26/02/2024

Ilie LĂUTARU

1991

Craiova Prison

01/01/2019

pending

More than 6 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 20 day(s)

6852/24

28/02/2024

Florin POPOIAC

1994

Giurgiu County Police Station; Giurgiu and Jilava Prisons

25/01/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 25 day(s)

6882/24

01/03/2024

Florin VASILE

1984

Galați and Brăila Prisons

27/12/2023

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 23 day(s)

7082/24

27/02/2024

Costel OSTAHIE

1970

Bacău, Vaslui, Iași and Miercurea Ciuc Prisons; Piatra Neamț County Police Station

16/01/2020

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 3 day(s)

8241/24

14/03/2024

Vasile DOBRE

1980

Tulcea Prison

23/12/2019

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 27 day(s)

9722/24

20/03/2024

Călin VARGA

1994

Gherla, Bistrița and Baia Mare Prisons

22/02/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 28 day(s)

10127/24

26/03/2024

Alexandru-Daniel TRANDAFIR

1998

Mioveni Prison

22/07/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 28 day(s)

10260/24

25/03/2024

Dumitru-Aurelian PLOSCAR

1987

Gherla Prison

16/10/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 3 day(s)

10500/24

20/03/2024

Florin ȘERBĂNESCU

1978

Giurgiu, Mioveni and Jilava Prisons

27/10/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 23 day(s)

10632/24

03/04/2024

Marius-Ionuţ GEAPANA

1996

Giurgiu, Rahova and Pelendava Prisons

22/12/2019

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 28 day(s)

10889/24

27/03/2024

Marian-Renato ROMAN

1984

Galați and Brăila Prisons

25/02/2020

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 26 day(s)

11049/24

01/04/2024

Ciprian-Marius VARZAR

1984

Bacău, Iași, Oradea, Focșani, Giurgiu and Botoșani Prisons

17/10/2019

pending

More than 6 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 3 day(s)

11285/24

08/04/2024

Alin-Cătălin PETRE

1998

Focșani and Mărgineni Prisons

19/06/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 1 day(s)

12657/24

22/04/2024

Dumitru ŞERBAN

1989

Botoșani Prison

17/07/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 3 day(s)

12754/24

22/04/2024

Constantin-Gabriel MIROIU

1998

Mărgineni Prison

17/02/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 3 day(s)

13345/24

24/04/2024

Iosif SANDOR

1976

Brașov County Police Station; Codlea, Miercurea Ciuc, Aiud and Deva Prisons

29/09/2019

pending

More than 6 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 22 day(s)

13592/24

23/04/2024

Claudiu VARGA

2000

Oradea, Bistrița and Gherla Prisons

03/06/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)

14767/24

15/05/2024

Mircea TALMACIU

1977

Brăila Prison

03/04/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 17 day(s)

15267/24

20/05/2024

Dorin-Licu TODOR

1993

Arad Prison

14/01/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 6 day(s)

15452/24

02/05/2024

Costică ŞERBAN

1984

Brăila and Iași Prisons

08/04/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 12 day(s)

15463/24

22/05/2024

Liviu-Marian FILIP

1989

Tulcea, Slobozia and Jilava Prisons

17/05/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 4 day(s)

15686/24

20/05/2024

Laurenţiu BOJĂ

1981

Teleorman County Police Station; Giurgiu Prison; Dej Prison Hospital

11/08/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 9 day(s)

15881/24

30/05/2024

Vasile APROFIREI

1968

Iași Central Arrest; Târgu Ocna, Mioveni and Rahova Prison Hospitals; Tulcea, Botoșani and Iași Prisons

14/08/2019

pending

More than 6 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 6 day(s)

15910/24

27/05/2024

Virgil NECHITA

1965

Gherla and Baia Mare Prisons

18/08/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 3 day(s)

17368/24

10/06/2024

Cristi-Marius PERJU

1987

Galați and Brăila Prisons

06/06/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 15 day(s)

17813/24

13/06/2024

Florin VULCU

1974

Satu Mare Prison

10/07/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 11 day(s)

18282/24

26/06/2024

Florin SCARLET

1983

Petrescu-Filote Cătălina-Alexandra

Focșani

Rahova, Brăila and Galați Prisons

08/01/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 14 day(s)

18356/24

17/06/2024

Cristian-Nelu STRECHE

1997

Argeș County Police Station; Giurgiu, Mioveni, Craiova and Arad Prisons

08/02/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 13 day(s)

18443/24

19/06/2024

Radu PETI

1992

Drobeta-Turnu Severin Prison

29/03/2024

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 23 day(s)

21202/24

03/07/2024

Razvan-Mircea RENTEA

1984

Satu Mare Central Arrest; Oradea and Satu Mare Prisons; Dej Prison Hospital

28/11/2017

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 24 day(s)

21269/24

19/07/2024

Gheorghe-Ion STĂNESCU

1992

Brăila Prison

19/07/2024

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 2 day(s)

21305/24

18/07/2024

Constantin PURCARU

1986

Drobeta-Turnu Severin Prison

25/08/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 27 day(s)

21498/24

04/07/2024

Ionel RĂDUCANU

1967

Găesti Prison

18/11/2016

pending

More than 9 year(s) and 3 day(s)

22444/24

29/07/2024

Dumitru PRIALA

1969

Gherla Prison

29/03/2024

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 23 day(s)

26777/24

10/09/2024

Alin TIFOIU

1981

Poarta Albă, Giurgiu and Tulcea Prisons; Poarta Albă, Rahova and Dej Prison Hospitals

08/10/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 14 day(s)

27973/24

23/09/2024

Eduard OPREA

1976

Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Găești, Jilava, Mărgineni, Focșani and Tulcea Prisons; Târgu Ocna, Poarta Albă, Rahova Prison Hospitals

30/09/2020

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 23 day(s)

28058/24

20/09/2024

Constantin NECHITA

1957

Rahova, Tulcea, Jilava, Botoșani, Slobozia and Aiud Prisons; Dej Prison Hospital

06/01/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 16 day(s)

28601/24

28/09/2024

Petrişor Valentin TUDOR

2004

Ene Georgeta

Pitești

Rahova and Mioveni Prisons; Craiova Central Arrest

01/01/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 21 day(s)

29811/24

04/10/2024

Mihai TUDOSE

1980

Craiova, Mioveni and Găești Prisons

20/12/2020

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 30 day(s)

29991/24

04/10/2024

Silviu TĂNASE

1977

Galați and Brăila Prisons

07/12/2023

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 12 day(s)

30214/24

01/10/2024

Dragoș-Ionuț PETRE

1989

Mărgineni and Mioveni Prisons

07/09/2020

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 12 day(s)

30247/24

01/10/2024

Ioan POP

1975

Bistrița County Police Station; Gherla, Bistrița and Rahova Prisons; Dej and Rahova Prisons

02/12/2020

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 17 day(s)

30454/24

11/10/2024

Nicolae VÎLCIOIU

1980

Craiova, Mioveni and Târgu Jiu Prisons

08/09/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 11 day(s)

31096/24

14/10/2024

Savu ABUCULESEI

1976

Iași and Botoșani Prisons

05/07/2024

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 14 day(s)

31104/24

14/10/2024

Sorin ABUCULESEI

1974

Iași and Botoșani Prisons

19/01/2024

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 10 month(s)

31961/24

23/10/2024

Gheorghe-Suraj BĂDALĂ

1978

Mioveni, Mărgineni, Aiud, Iași, Giurgiu, Craiova and Arad Prisons

23/03/2004

pending

More than 21 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 27 day(s)

32419/24

28/10/2024

Florian PANTAN

1963

Olt County Police Station; Craiova and Pelendava Prisons

06/10/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 13 day(s)

32608/24

30/10/2024

Iosif BOCA

1991

Arad, Timișoara, Codlea, Aiud, Oradea, Ploiești, Drobeta ‑ Turnu Severin and Jilava Prisons

26/10/2017

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 24 day(s)

32785/24

24/10/2024

Szilamér SONDA

1987

Codlea, Târgu Mureș, Miercurea Ciuc and Aiud Prisons

04/08/2020

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 15 day(s)

33301/24

31/10/2024

Vasile REDNIC

1978

Timișoara and Arad Prisons

15/06/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 4 day(s)

33702/24

08/11/2024

Fănică CHIRILĂ

1960

Găești Prison

13/10/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 6 day(s)