PROCEDURE

The case originated in an application (no. 67252/01) 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 Mr Aliseydi Keltaş (“the applicant”) on 15 November 2000.

The applicant was represented by Mr Mahmut Akdoğan, a lawyer practising in Mersin. The Turkish Government (“the Government”) did not designate an Agent for the purposes of the proceedings before the Court.

On 15 September 2004 the Court decided to communicate the application to the Government. Under the provisions of Article 29 § 3 of the Convention, it decided to examine the merits of the application at the same time as its admissibility.

THE FACTS

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE

The applicant was born in 1947 and lives in Mersin.

On 12 March 1996 the General Directorate of National Roads and Highways expropriated two plots of land belonging to the applicant in Mersin in order to build a motorway. A committee of experts assessed the value of the plots of land and the relevant amount was paid to the applicant when the expropriation took place.

Following the applicant’s request for increased compensation, on 30 December 1996 the Mersin Civil Court of First-instance awarded him additional compensation of 962,996,880 Turkish liras (TRL), plus interest at the statutory rate, applicable at the date of the court’s decision, running from 12 March 1996, the date of the transfer of the title-deeds.

On 29 June 1998 the Court of Cassation upheld the judgment of the Mersin Civil Court of First-instance.

On 16 May 2000 the General Directorate of National Roads and Highways paid the applicant the amount of TRL 2,861,840,000, including interest.