British-Hungarian heir takes Serbia to human rights court
Human Rights Watch | 09.10.2011 14:54
A British-Hungarian aristocrat is taking Serbia to the European Court of Human Rights for excluding his family from restitution of their one-time properties.
Count Miklos Cseszneky cannot claim compensation for the properties confiscated by the Yugoslav communist authorities after World War II because Serbia’s new restitution law discriminates against ethnic Hungarians. Under the law, those who were members of the Hungarian forces between 1941-1945 and their descendants are excluded from compensation. Miklos Cseszneky’s grand-father Count Mihaly Cseszneky, a wealthy industrialist and landowner, was drafted into the Hungarian army, but never took part in combat or fired a shot.
Count Miklos Cseszneky cannot claim compensation for the properties confiscated by the Yugoslav communist authorities after World War II because Serbia’s new restitution law discriminates against ethnic Hungarians. Under the law, those who were members of the Hungarian forces between 1941-1945 and their descendants are excluded from compensation. Miklos Cseszneky’s grand-father Count Mihaly Cseszneky, a wealthy industrialist and landowner, was drafted into the Hungarian army, but never took part in combat or fired a shot.
Count Cseszneky’s lawyers argue that the Serbian law is based on the concept of collective guilt which fully contradicts European standards and violates fundamental human rights.
Hungary harshly criticized the bill and threatened to withdraw support for Belgrade's bid to join the European Union if the Serbian parliament fails to modify the discriminative parts of the restitution law.
Hungary harshly criticized the bill and threatened to withdraw support for Belgrade's bid to join the European Union if the Serbian parliament fails to modify the discriminative parts of the restitution law.
Human Rights Watch