FOURTH SECTION DECISION Application no. 42782/21 Telmo GOMES DA COSTA against Portugal and 19 other applications (see appended table) The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting on 6 February 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 regard to the observations submitted by the respondent Government and the observations in reply submitted by the applicants, Having deliberated, decides as follows: FACTS AND PROCEDURE The list of applicants is set out in the appended table. The applicant’s complaints under Article 3 of the Convention concerning the inadequate conditions of detention were communicated to the Portuguese Government (“the Government”). In some of the applications, complaints based on the same facts were also communicated under other provisions of the Convention. THE LAW Joinder of the applications Having regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single decision. Complaints under Article 3 of the Convention (inadequate conditions of detention) In the present applications, having examined all the material before it, the Court considers that for the reasons stated below, the complaints about the conditions of detention are inadmissible. Conditions of detention concerning the last period of detention The applicants were detained in different prison facilities. During their last, most recent and/or entire period of their detention (for further details see appended table) the applicants were detained at Carregueira Prison (application no. 42782/2); Coimbra Prison (applications nos. 25231/22, 40615/22, 40624/22 and 44226/22); Sintra Prison (applications nos. 25578/22, 25580/22, 25585/22 and 46615/22); Pinheiro da Cruz Prison (applications nos. 31799/22 and 4357/22); Caxias Prison (applications nos. 38237/22, 41897/22 and 25583/22); Alcoentre Prison (application no. 38244/22); Izeda Prison (applications nos. 47611/22 and 47638/22); Vale de Judeus Prison (application no. 49466/22) and Elvas Prison (applications nos. 49655/22 and 49681/22). Having regard to all the available material and the parties’ arguments, the Court finds that it cannot establish that the applicants suffered in these prison facilities from severe overcrowding of the kind that could entail, on its own, a violation of Article 3 (see Muršić v. Croatia [GC], no. 7334/13, 20 October 2016) nor can it be found that the cumulative effect of the other aspects of the detention which the applicants complained about reached the threshold of severity required to characterise the treatment as inhuman or degrading within the meaning of Article 3 (see Bokor v. Portugal , (dec.) no.5227/18, § 34, 10 December 2020). It follows that the complaints concerning these periods of detention in the facilities indicated above (for further details see the appended table) are manifestly ill-founded and must be rejected in accordance with Article 35 §§ 3 a) and 4 of the Convention. Conditions of detention before the last prison transfer or placement in adequate conditions of detention Concerning additional complaints under Article 3 raised by some of the applicants in respect of other periods of their detention, in light of the conclusion above, the Court finds that the applicants’ transfer to a prison or cell with adequate conditions of detention interrupted the “continuing situation” of their conditions of detention. Therefore, the complaints concerning the conditions of detention prior to their last prison transfer are belated (see Ananyev and Others v. Russia , nos. 42525/07 and 60800/08, §§ 75-78, 10 January 2012). Accordingly, these complaints must be rejected in accordance with Article 35 §§ 1 and 4 of the Convention. Remaining complaints Concerning applications nos. 42782/22, 31799/22, 38237/22, 38244/22, 41897/22, 44226/22, 47611/22, 47638/22, 49655/22, 49681/22, relying on Article 13 of the Convention, the applicants complained of the lack of an effective remedy in respect of their conditions of detention. The Court notes that, according to its established case-law, Article 13 of the Convention applied only where an individual has an “arguable claim” to be victim of a violation of a Convention right (see Boyle and Rice v. the United Kingdom , 27 April 1988, § 52, Series A no. 131; and Narcisio v. Netherlands (dec.), no. 47810/99, 27 January 2005). Having regard to the findings above as to the applicants’ complaints under Article 3 of the Convention about their conditions of detention, the Court concludes that they are not “arguable” and that therefore Article 13 is not applicable. It follows that this part of the applications must be rejected in accordance with Article 35 §§ 3 (a) and 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 6 March 2025. 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 Sq. m per inmate Specific grievances 42782/21 02/08/2021 Telmo GOMES DA COSTA 1973 Carreto Vítor Torres Vedras Lisbon Judicial Prison 16/06/2016 to 02/09/2016 2 months and 18 days Caxias Prison 02/09/2016 to 28/07/2017 10 months and 27 days Carregueira Prison 28/07/2017 to 10/08/2021 4 years and 14 days 2 inmates 3.15 m² 1 toilet 2 inmates 1 toilet 5 inmates 5.32 m² 1 toilet mouldy or dirty cell, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, overcrowding, lack of requisite medical assistance overcrowding lack of toiletries, lack of or insufficient electric light 25231/22 12/05/2022 Luís Miguel CORREIA DE MELO 1986 Mendes Martins Rodrigo Lisbon Coimbra Prison 19/11/2019 to 05/12/2019 17 days Coimbra Prison 05/12/2019 to 24/07/2021 1 year and 7 months and 20 days Coimbra Prison 24/07/2021 to 16/02/2022 6 months and 24 days Coimbra Prison 16/02/2022 to 22/09/2023 1 year and 7 months and 7 days 5 inmates 4.32 m² 1 toilet 1 inmate 6.19 m² 1 toilet 5 inmate 8.35 m² 1 toilet 1 inmate 6.19 m² 1 toilet sharing cells with inmates infected with contagious disease idem idem idem 25578/22 18/05/2022 Oleg POMPENKO 1959 Gaspar Schwalbach José Lisbon Lisbon Judicial Prison 31/01/2019 to 08/01/2020 11 months and 9 days Caxias Prison 08/01/2020 to 11/05/2021 1 year and 4 months and 4 days Sintra Prison 11/05/2021 to 06/09/2022 1 year and 3 months and 27 days 2 inmates 3.20 m² 1 toilet 3 inmates 3.66 m² 1 toilet 1 inmate 5.18 m² 1 toilet overcrowding, inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of fresh air, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, poor quality of food idem - 25580/22 18/05/2022 Denys KRAVCHENKO 1978 Gaspar Schwalbach José Lisbon Lisbon Judicial Prison 31/01/2019 to 15/02/2019 16 days Caxias Prison 15/02/2019 to 16/11/2021 2 years and 9 months and 2 days Sintra Prison 16/11/2021 to 30/08/2022 9 months and 15 days 2 inmates 3.2 m² 1 toilet 4 inmates 4 m² 1 toilet 3 inmates 4.2 m² 1 toilet overcrowding, inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of privacy for toilet, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, poor quality of food idem - 25583/22 18/05/2022 Ruslan SUTA 1982 Gaspar Schwalbach José Lisbon Lisbon Central Prison 31/01/2019 to 20/02/2019 21 days Caxias Prison 20/02/2019 to 03/02/2021 1 year and 11 months and 15 days Caxias Prison 03/02/2021 to 11/05/2022 1 year and 3 months and 9 days Caxias Prison 11/05/2022 to 31/01/2023 8 months and 21 days 2 inmates 3.15 m² 1 toilet 2 inmates 5.5 m² 1 toilet 10 inmates 4.10 m² 1 toilet 4 inmates 4 m² 1 toilet overcrowding, inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of fresh air, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, poor quality of food - - - 25585/22 18/05/2022 Dmytro OVSIANNIKOV 1986 Gaspar Schwalbach José Lisbon Lisbon Judicial Prison 31/01/2019 to 20/02/2019 21 days Caxias Prison 20/02/2019 to 16/11/2021 2 years and 8 months and 28 days Sintra Prison 16/11/2021 to 23/08/2022 9 months and 8 days 2 inmates 3.2 m² 1 toilet 1 inmate 11 m² 1 toilet 3 inmates 4.2 m² 1 toilet inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of fresh air, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, poor quality of food, overcrowding - - 31799/22 01/08/2022 Luis Filipe FIGUEIREDO SOBREIRA 1966 Carreto Vítor Torres Vedras Lisbon Central Prison 15/12/2012 to 12/04/2018 5 years and 3 months and 29 days Pinheiro da Cruz Prison 12/04/2018 to 07/01/2020 1 year and 8 months and 27 days Pinheiro da Cruz Prison 07/01/2020 to 18/10/2023 3 years and 9 months and 12 days Pinheiro da Cruz Prison 18/10/2023 pending More than 4 months and 12 days 2 inmates 3.72 m² 1 toilet 1 inmate 5.55 m² 1 toilet 3 inmates 5.47 m² 1 toilet 2 inmates 10.48 m² 1 toilet overcrowding, lack of fresh air, inadequate temperature, poor quality of food, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, lack of privacy for toilet - - - 38237/22 01/08/2022 Pedro Miguel ANDRADE ARAÚJO 1985 Carreto Vítor Torres Vedras Caxias Prison 23/04/2019 to 28/11/2022 3 years and 7 months and 6 days 10 inmates >3.37 m² 1 toilet poor quality of food 38244/22 01/08/2022 Ezequiel António DA SILVA CANDEIAS 1982 Carreto Vítor Torres Vedras Alcoentre Prison 30/07/2021 to 09/02/2022 6 months and 11 days Alcoentre Prison 09/02/2022 to 04/05/2022 2 months and 26 days Alcoentre Prison 04/05/2022 to 12/12/2022 7 months and 9 days Alcoentre Prison 12/12/2022 pending More than 5 months and 27 days 2 inmates 4 m² 1 toilet 1 inmate 5.20 m² 1 toilet 5 inmates 3.90 m² 1 toilet 1 inmate 5.20 m² 1 toilet poor quality of food, lack of fresh air idem idem idem 40615/22 12/08/2022 Danilo MONTEIRO CARDOSO 1980 Mendes Martins Rodrigo Lisbon Aveiro Prison 12/06/2015 to 18/04/2016 10 months and 7 days Coimbra Prison 18/04/2016 to 03/05/2017 1 year and 16 days Coimbra Prison 03/05/2017 to 22/12/2021 4 years and 7 months and 20 days Coimbra Prison 22/12/2021 to 28/12/2022 1 year and 7 days Coimbra Prison 28/12/2022 to 08/04/2023 3 months and 12 days 6 inmates 3.72 m² 1 toilet 1 inmate 6.20 m² 1 toilet 2 inmates 3.10 m² 1 toilet 1 inmate 6.20 m² 1 toilet 2 inmates 8.37 m² 1 toilet bunk beds, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of fresh air, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, lack of privacy for toilet, mouldy or dirty cell, no or restricted access to potable water, overcrowding, passive smoking, poor quality of food, lack of requisite medical assistance, no or restricted access to shower - No privacy for toilet - - 40624/22 12/08/2022 João Filipe CARDOSO PINTO DAMAS 1989 Mendes Martins Rodrigo Lisbon Coimbra Prison 16/09/2020 to 30/06/2023 2 years and 9 months and 15 days Coimbra Prison 30/06/2023 to 17/11/2023 4 months and 19 days 2 inmates 3.10 m² 1 toilet 1 inmate 6.20 m² 1 toilet poor quality of food - 41897/22 22/08/2022 Rodrigo DE MOURA PEREIRA DO VALLE BRAK-LAMY 1985 Carreto Vítor Torres Vedras Caxias Prison 01/03/2019 to 04/01/2021 1 year and 10 months and 4 days Caxias Prison 04/01/2021 to 27/12/2021 11 months and 24 days Caxias Prison 27/12/2021 to 23/02/2023 1 year and 1 month and 28 days 2 inmates 5.5 m² 1 toilet 10 inmates 4.10 m² 1 toilet 7 inmates 4.34 m² 1 toilet lack of toiletries, absence of an alarm system in the cell idem idem 43574/22 06/09/2022 Slavko VESELINOVIĆ 1968 Horta Prison 29/05/2015 to 28/07/2015 2 months Angra do Heroismo Prison 28/07/2015 to 14/09/2021 6 years and 1 month and 18 days Pinheiro da Cruz Prison 14/09/2021 to 28/11/2022 1 year and 2 months and 15 days 3 inmates 1.66 m² 1 toilet 2 inmates 1 toilet 2 inmates 3 m² 1 toilet overcrowding, lack of or insufficient electric light, humidity, mouldy or dirty cell, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance overcrowding, lack of privacy for toilet, no separation between shower and cell, poorly insulated windows, humidity, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or restricted access to leisure or educational activities, poor quality of food - 44226/22 06/09/2022 Manuel António MONTEFERREIRO FIDALGO 1974 Carreto Vítor Torres Vedras Braga Prison 08/03/2019 to 20/07/2020 1 year and 4 months and 13 days Coimbra Prison 20/07/2020 to 16/09/2020 1 month and 28 days Coimbra Prison 16/09/2020 pending More than 3 years and 2 months and 22 days 2 inmates 4.55 m² 1 toilet 2 inmates 15 m² 1 toilet 2 inmates 3.10 m² 1 toilet overcrowding, mouldy or dirty cell, passive smoking, lack of privacy for toilet, inadequate temperature, poor quality of food - - 46615/22 26/09/2022 Malik Shabaz SPENCER 1991 Gaspar Schwalbach José Lisbon Lisbon Central Prison 10/01/2020 to 25/05/2022 2 years and 7 months and 8 days Sintra Prison 25/05/2022 to 01/03/2023 9 months and 5 days 2 inmates 2.5 m² 1 toilet 3 inmates 4.20 m² 1 toilet overcrowding, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of fresh air, no or restricted access to warm water, humidity, mouldy or dirty cell, lack or inadequate furniture, infestation of cell with insects/rodents - 47611/22 03/10/2022 Agustin RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUES 1996 Carreto Vítor Torres Vedras Porto Prison 11/04/2018 to 06/11/2019 1 year and 6 months and 27 days Izeda Prison 06/11/2019 to 03/03/2023 3 years and 3 months and 26 days 2 inmates 3 m² 1 toilet 6 inmates 3.05 m² 1 toilet overcrowding, lack of fresh air - 47638/22 03/10/2022 Sérgio Paulo DOS SANTOS BORGES 1977 Izeda Prison 26/01/2022 pending More than 1 year and 9 months and 8 days 6 inmates 3.16 m² 1 toilet - 49466/22 13/10/2022 Fábio Filipe SANTANA NUNES 1987 Mendes Martins Rodrigo Lisbon Vale de Judeus Prison 29/03/2022 to 18/09/2023 1 year and 5 months and 21 days 1 inmate 5.7 m² 1 toilet - 49655/22 17/10/2022 Fábio David DA SILVA AGOSTINHO 1988 Carreto Vítor Torres Vedras Beja Prison 11/03/2017 to 01/04/2021 4 years and 24 days Pinheiro da Cruz Prison 01/04/2021 to 01/09/2022 1 year and 5 months and 1 day Elvas Prison 01/09/2022 to 09/03/2023 6 months and 9 days 7 inmates 3 m² 1 toilet 1 inmate 6 m² 1 toilet 4 inmates 3.87 m² 1 toilet overcrowding, poor quality of food, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, lack of requisite medical assistance, inadequate temperature, humidity, lack of privacy for toilet, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air 49681/22 17/10/2022 Soulimane BERDADI 1968 Carreto Vítor Torres Vedras Elvas Prison 08/08/2022 to 30/09/2022 1 month and 23 days 5 inmates 3.10 m² 1 toilet -