62025CJ0135_SUM
Case C‑135/25 PPU [Kachev (
i
)]
Criminal proceedings
v
M. S. T.
(Request for a preliminary rulingfrom the Varhoven kasatsionen sad)
Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 20 May 2025
(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Area of freedom, security and justice – Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Directive (EU) 2016/343 – Article 8 – Right to be present at the trial – Information regarding the holding of the trial and the consequences of non-appearance – Inability to locate the accused person notwithstanding reasonable efforts made by the competent authorities – Possibility of a trial and a decision in absentia – Article 9 – Right to a new trial or to another legal remedy which allows a fresh determination of the merits of the case – Judicial proceedings to determine whether a right to a new trial exists – Obligation to act with speed)
Questions referred for a preliminary ruling – Urgent preliminary ruling procedure – Conditions – Person deprived of liberty – Outcome of the dispute liable to have an effect on that deprivation of liberty
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 23a; Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice, Arts 107 and 108(1))
(see paragraphs 24-29)
Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Strengthening of certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and of the right to be present at the trial in criminal proceedings – Directive 2016/343 – Right to be present at the trial – Right to a new trial – Person having absconded after receiving a preliminary indictment – Authorities that made efforts to inform him or her of the date and place of his or her trial – An indictment with the same content as the preliminary indictment and a document mentioning the date and place of the trial are sent to the address provided by that person – Representation by a court-appointed lawyer throughout the entire judicial proceedings – Person convicted in absentia in those circumstances – National legislation refusing the right to a retrial – Whether permissible – Conditions
(Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2018/1862, Arts 34(1)(b) and (c); Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 2016/343, Arts 8 and 9)
(see 44-46, 51-59, 62, 63, operative part)
Judicial cooperation in criminal matters – Strengthening of certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and of the right to be present at the trial in criminal proceedings – Directive 2016/343 – Right to be present at the trial – Proceedings in absentia – Right to a new trial or to another legal remedy – National legislation making the recognition of the right to a new trial subject to the submission of a request to reopen criminal proceedings – Whether permissible – Conditions
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2016/343, Arts 8(2) and 9)
(see paragraphs 64-70)
See the text of the decision.
(
i
)	The name of the present case is a fictitious name. It does not correspond to the real name of any party to the proceedings.