PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 66995/01) against the Republic of Turkey lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by two Turkish nationals, Mr Salih Başkan and Mr Bahri Başkan (“the applicants”) on 30 October 2000.

The applicants were represented by Mr Ahmet Elvan Tetik, a lawyer practising in Antalya. The Turkish Government (“the Government”) did not designate an Agent for the purposes of the proceedings before the Court.

On 5 April 2004 the Court decided to communicate the application to the Government. In a letter of 8 April 2004, the Court informed the parties that in accordance with Article 29 §§ 1 and 3 of the Convention it would decide on both the admissibility and merits of the application.

THE FACTS

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicants were born in 1926 and 1943 respectively, and live in Antalya.

On 17 December 1997 the General Directorate of National Airports expropriated a plot of land belonging to the applicants. A committee of experts assessed the value of the plot and the relevant amount was paid to them when the expropriation took place.

Following the applicants' request for increased compensation, on 20 March 1998 the Antalya Civil Court of First-instance awarded them additional compensation plus interest at the statutory rate applicable at the date of the court's decision.

On 9 June 1998 the Court of Cassation quashed the judgment of the Antalya Civil Court of First-instance.

On 28 September 1998 the Court of Cassation rejected the applicants' request for rectification of the judgment of 9 June 1998.

On 20 December 1999 the Antalya Civil Court of First-instance awarded the applicants additional compensation of 33,318,109,000 Turkish liras (TRL) plus interest at the statutory rate running from 17 December 1997, the date on which the title deed to the land had been transferred to the General Directorate of National Airports in the land registry.

On 29 February 2000 the Court of Cassation upheld the judgment of the Antalya Civil Court of First-instance.

On 8 May 2000 the Court of Cassation rejected the applicants' request for rectification.

On 7 June 2000 the General Directorate of National Airports paid the applicants an overall amount of TRL 77,103,800,000.