Manole and Others v. Romania

FOURTH SECTION

Application no. 52/23 Nicolae MANOLE 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, 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 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 further 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

Facility

Start and end date

Duration

52/23

09/12/2022

Nicolae MANOLE

1974

Rahova and Ploiești Prisons

21/02/2022

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 24 day(s)

502/23

13/02/2023

Irinel ‑ Gheorghe MIELU

1993

Mioveni, Mărgineni and Craiova Prisons

08/12/2014

pending

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

955/23

14/02/2023

David ‑ Giocu MICHILE

2001

Craiova Detention Facility and Arad Prison

21/10/2016

pending

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

2486/23

06/01/2023

Cristinel ‑ Mihai ILAȘCU

1992

Brăila, Giurgiu, Aiud, Oradea and Mărgineni Prisons

23/12/2019

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 23 day(s)

3619/23

08/03/2023

Sorin MICLOŞ

1971

Codlea, Timișoara, Drobeta ‑ Turnu Severin and Arad Prisons

19/07/2021

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 27 day(s)

4319/23

07/03/2023

Constantin GAIȚĂ

1946

Vaslui, Bacău, Târgu Ocna, Iași and Slobozia Prisons, Rahova and Jilava Prison Hospitals

28/01/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 27 day(s)

4926/23

01/03/2023

Alexandru LINCAN

1973

Jilava, Tulcea and Giurgiu Prisons

23/12/2019

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 20 day(s)

4928/23

16/02/2023

Dumitru LĂCĂTUŞU

1992

Piatra Neamț County Police Station, Bacău and Giurgiu Prisons, Jilava Prison Hospital

01/06/2021

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 27 day(s)

5624/23

23/01/2023

Constantin MIHAI

1998

Bacău and Miercurea Ciuc Prisons

20/08/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 9 day(s)

8180/23

09/03/2023

Alexandru IGNAT

1998

Vaslui County Police Station, Iași, Gherla, Aiud, Mărgineni and Vaslui Prisons

24/05/2021

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 22 day(s)

9336/23

13/04/2023

Casian LORINCZ

1994

Miercurea Ciuc, Gherla and Baia Mare Prisons

29/10/2018

pending

More than 7 year(s)

9846/23

20/04/2023

Alexandru GASPAR

2000

Gherla, Aiud, Bacău and Baia Mare Prisons

18/12/2019

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 7 day(s)

10790/23

19/04/2023

Cătălin-Gheorghe LINGURAR

1996

Codlea, Aiud, Târgu Mureș and Miercurea Ciuc Prisons

02/08/2018

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 23 day(s)

11240/23

04/04/2023

Marian LUPU

1986

Galați Prison

10/06/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 19 day(s)

11351/23

26/04/2023

Răzvan NĂSTRUŢ

1994

Vaslui, Tulcea and Brăila Prisons

23/12/2019

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 2 day(s)

11476/23

12/05/2023

Vasile GOIA

1979

Gherla and Baia Mare Prisons

29/07/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 29 day(s)

12294/23

11/05/2023

Mirel NEAGU

1986

Alexandria Police Station, Giurgiu and Jilava Prisons

19/01/2020

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 10 day(s)

13720/23

26/04/2023

Marian-Vasile OANEA

1974

Botoșani, Iași, Galați, Arad, Târgu Ocna, Mărgineni, Focșani and Vaslui Prisons, Jilava and Mioveni Prison Hospitals

27/12/2017

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 1 day(s)

13996/23

02/05/2023

Bogdan-Bobi GHIULAI

1986

Gherla, Oradea and Baia Mare Prisons

16/07/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 12 day(s)

14388/23

08/05/2023

Ioan MICLEA

1965

Ploiești Prison

24/04/2013

pending

More than 12 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 4 day(s)

14462/23

18/08/2023

Nicolae MEZŐK

1974

Gherla Prison

16/11/2022

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 12 day(s)

16139/23

09/05/2023

Nicolae HADA

1961

Craiova County Police Station, Craiova and Arad Prisons

22/01/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 6 day(s)

17465/23

18/07/2023

Delpiero-Marcel NEGRILĂ

2001

Slatina County Police Station, Craiova and Arad Prisons

08/04/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 20 day(s)

17800/23

13/06/2023

Gheorghe MÂŢ

1981

Gherla, Deva (Bârcea Mare), Aiud and Baia Mare Prisons

27/05/2019

pending

More than 6 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 1 day(s)

18175/23

09/06/2023

Petrică OLOERIU

1967

Bucharest Police Station no. 6, Jilava Prison Hospital, Jilava, Rahova and Giurgiu Prisons

07/01/2013

pending

More than 12 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 22 day(s)

19075/23

12/06/2023

Mihai ‑ Răzvan MODJES

1997

Rahova and Târgu Jiu Prisons

14/03/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 14 day(s)

19281/23

25/07/2023

Ştefan LUNGU

1961

Oradea, Jilava, Poarta Albă, Găești, Rahova and Mioveni Prisons

01/11/2012

pending

More than 12 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 28 day(s)

20088/23

20/06/2023

Valer ISTVAN

1980

Gherla and Baia Mare Prisons

16/04/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 12 day(s)

20785/23

22/06/2023

Gabi LEONTE

1987

Vaslui Prison

15/12/2023

pending

More than 1 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 14 day(s)

21751/23

18/07/2023

Florin-Vasile MANOLE

1980

Timișoara and Drobeta ‑ Turnu Severin Prisons

14/09/2021

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 15 day(s)

22130/23

26/06/2023

Viorel IORDACHE

1972

Rahova and Jilava Prisons

06/03/2020

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 23 day(s)

22175/23

24/07/2023

Costel LUCEA

1984

Rahova and Jilava Prisons

21/09/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 8 day(s)

22737/23

28/06/2023

Ionuţ ‑ Alexandru MARŞAVELA

2001

Craiova Detention Facility, Bacău and Arad Prisons

24/12/2019

pending

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

23546/23

07/07/2023

Octavian ‑ Valentin HULE

1980

Oradea, Timișoara and Satu Mare Prisons

14/10/2022

pending

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

24159/23

21/07/2023

Marian LUPU

1969

Craiova and Pelendava Prisons

01/12/2019

pending

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

24254/23

16/08/2023

Ovidiu GHIDĂNAC

1983

Craiova and Târgu Jiu Prisons

28/04/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 2 day(s)

24257/23

24/07/2023

Virgil MORTU

1971

Tulcea and Constanța ‑ Poarta Albă Prisons

24/12/2019

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 6 day(s)

24628/23

22/09/2023

Daniel ‑ Cosmin LINGURAR

2001

Gherla and Baia Mare Prisons

17/11/2022

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 13 day(s)

24637/23

21/07/2023

Nicolae ‑ Tiberiu NUŢU

1986

Tulcea, Bacău, Miercurea Ciuc and Găești Prisons

19/11/2022

pending

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

25545/23

01/08/2023

Viorel ‑ Marian IOVIŢĂ

1991

Iași and Botoșani Prisons

10/05/2020

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 20 day(s)

25971/23

06/09/2023

Iulian ‑ Constantin OBLOJA

1985

Craiova, Rahova, Timișoara, Arad, Craiova ‑ Pelendava and Drobeta ‑ Turnu Severin Prisons

08/06/2021

pending

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

26673/23

27/07/2023

Nicu ‑ Iulian MACOVEI

1989

Galați, Focșani, Mărgineni, Rahova, Tulcea and Brăila Prisons

24/12/2019

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 6 day(s)

27155/23

03/08/2023

Ionel LAZĂR

1970

Dolj County Police Station, Craiova, Constanța ‑ Poarta Albă, Ploiești, Craiova ‑ Pelendava and Timișoara Prisons

04/12/2019

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 26 day(s)

27563/23

03/07/2023

Vasile NEGRU

1974

Suceava County Police Station, Botoșani, Iași, Gherla, Aiud, Mărgineni, Bacău, Arad, Vaslui and Tulcea Prisons, Jilava, Târgu Ocna and Dej Prison Hospitals

21/05/2014

pending

More than 11 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 9 day(s)

27905/23

30/08/2023

Maria MUNTEANU

1973

Ploiești ‑ Târgșorul Nou and Craiova Prisons

01/01/2010

pending

More than 15 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 29 day(s)

27992/23

10/08/2023

Alexandru MĂRGULESCU

1983

Jilava and Rahova Prisons

20/05/2019

pending

More than 6 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 10 day(s)

28199/23

07/08/2023

Gheorghe MOLDOVEANU

1976

Rahova, Giurgiu and Jilava Prisons, Jilava Hospital Prison

24/12/2019

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 6 day(s)

29065/23

29/08/2023

Dumitru NEAMŢU

1973

Vaslui, Bacău and Galați Prisons, Târgu Ocna Hospital Prison, Vaslui County Police Station

18/03/2020

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 13 day(s)

30216/23

18/08/2023

Laurenţiu ‑ Marius MACARIE

1979

Jilava Prison Hospital

28/12/2022

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 3 day(s)

30811/23

07/02/2024

Adrian NEGREA

1988

Târgu Mureș County Police Station and Gherla Prison

23/06/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 8 day(s)

31305/23

01/08/2023

Andi ‑ Răzvan MIHAI

1984

Mărgineni, Găești and Ploiești Prisons

11/11/2022

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 20 day(s)

31625/23

11/09/2023

Ionel ‑ Florea MARIN

1987

Rahova and Jilava Prisons

20/08/2021

pending

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

35338/23

09/10/2023

Cătălin ‑ Ion ILIE

1991

Giurgiu and Jilava Prisons

24/12/2019

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 7 day(s)

35368/23

22/12/2023

András KARÁCSONY

1985

Miercurea Ciuc, Târgu Mureș, Mărgineni, Gherla, Jilava, Ploiești and Aiud Prisons

19/09/2025

pending

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

36655/23

06/03/2024

Romulus ‑ Cosmin GOGONEA

1985

Rahova, Jilava and Tulcea Prisons

23/12/2019

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 9 day(s)

36909/23

20/11/2023

Florin ‑ Augustin LUNGU

1976

Mărgineni, Mioveni and Găești Prisons

30/03/2022

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 2 day(s)

37912/23

14/11/2023

János ‑ Vasile KISKASZA

1993

Rahova, Oradea and Baia Mare Prisons

04/03/2023

pending

More than 2 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 28 day(s)

38319/23

14/11/2023

Ovidiu ‑ Petre MĂMĂLIGĂ

1987

Bucharest and Craiova Prisons

11/07/2019

pending

More than 6 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 21 day(s)

38495/23

08/04/2024

Alexandru ‑ Marius IONICEL

1986

Rahova and Jilava Prisons

25/11/2021

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 7 day(s)

38598/23

05/12/2023

Georgian ISPIR

1989

Constanța ‑ Poarta Albă, Rahova, Bacău and Slobozia Prisons

24/12/2019

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 8 day(s)