FOURTH SECTION
DECISION
Application no. 37224/22
Leontin-Nicolae CACUCI against Romania
and 59 other applications
(see appended table)
The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting on 18 December 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 deliberated, decides as follows:
FACTS AND PROCEDURE
The list of applicants and the relevant information is set out in the appended table.
The applicants complained under Article 3 of the Convention about the inadequate conditions of their detention (see the appended table for details).
THE LAW
Joinder of the applicationsHaving 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)Having examined all the material before it, the Court considers that, for the reasons stated below, the applicants’ complaints under Article 3 of the Convention about poor conditions of their ongoing detention are inadmissible.
The Court recalls that in Văscăuțanu v. Romania (dec.), no. 10120/23, §§ 47–59, 18 November 2025, it held that the remedy, which consists of lodging a complaint with the judge responsible for supervising the deprivation of liberty (plângerea în fața judecătorului de supraveghere a privării de libertate), provided for by Article 56 of Law no. 254/2013, constituted, as of 6 April 2023, an effective remedy enabling individuals who allege that they are being held in inadequate conditions of detention to put an end to their situation that they denounced as being contrary to Article 3 of the Convention.
In light of all the material in its possession, the Court observes that the applicants, who allege that they are being held in inadequate conditions of detention, did not indicate that they pursued the available remedy before the domestic courts (see Văscăuțanu, cited above, § 65).
In view of the above, the Court finds that the applicants’ complaints concerning the periods set out in the appended table must be rejected for failure to exhaust the domestic remedy laid down in Article 56 of Law no. 254/2013, in accordance with Article 35 §§ 1 and 4 of the Convention.
Remaining complaintsSome applicants also raised other complaints under various Convention provisions.
The Court has examined the applications listed in the appended table and considers that, in the light of all the material in its possession and in so far as the matters complained of are within its competence, these complaints either do not meet the admissibility criteria set out in Articles 34 and 35 of the Convention or do not disclose any appearance of a violation of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Convention or the Protocols thereto.
It follows that this part of the applications must be rejected in accordance with Article 35 § 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 29 January 2026.
 
 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
 
Facility
Start and end date
Duration
 
   37224/22
23/08/2022
Leontin-Nicolae CACUCI
1989
 
Mărgineni, Gherla, Galați, Giurgiu, Slobozia and Arad Prisons
22/10/2018
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 4 day(s)
 
   25623/23
14/07/2023
Daniel Alexandru SBENGHECI
1975
 
Pelendava Prison
23/12/2019
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 22 day(s)
 
   22450/24
22/07/2024
Andrei-Daniel SIMESCU
1995
 
Târgu Jiu, Arad and Craiova Prisons
01/07/2020
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 24 day(s)
 
   23920/24
13/08/2024
Mădălin REZEANU
1999
 
Teleorman County Police Station; Giurgiu and Jilava Prisons; Jilava Prison Hospital
29/06/2020
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 27 day(s)
 
   24356/24
09/08/2024
Ion-Nicu ONUŢ
1980
 
Rahova, Iași and Botoșani Prisons
03/04/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 22 day(s)
 
   24823/24
20/08/2024
Marcel-Ilie ROB
1983
 
Maramureș County Police Station; Gherla and Baia Mare Prisons
17/06/2023
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 8 day(s)
 
   24858/24
20/08/2024
Ionuţ-Cristian SIMION
1979
 
Argeș County Police Station; Mioveni, Rahova, Pelendava and Găești Prisons
09/04/2011
pending
More than 14 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 16 day(s)
 
   24884/24
20/08/2024
Istvan-Tibor PAL
1993
 
Satu Mare and Oradea Prison
13/10/2023
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 12 day(s)
 
   24892/24
14/08/2024
Amar ROMAN
1976
 
Rahova, Botoșani, Jilava and Găești Prisons
25/08/2023
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 3 month(s)
 
 24945/24
06/08/2024
Ilie POPOV-CHITUCEA
1999
 
Tulcea, Rahova, Poarta Albă and Giurgiu Prisons
25/10/2019
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 1 month(s)
 
 25229/24
28/08/2024
Constantin-Andrei RĂCHITĂ
1992
 
Rahova, Vaslui and Botoșani Prisons
12/12/2023
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 13 day(s)
 
 25416/24
22/08/2024
Alexandru-Ionuţ SZABO
1998
 
Arad Prison
25/09/2021
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 2 month(s)
 
 25424/24
27/08/2024
Daniel-Iulian VOICU
1990
 
Craiova and Pelendava Prisons
20/10/2022
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 5 day(s)
 
 25431/24
27/08/2024
Valentin RADU
1968
 
Mioveni and Mărgineni Prisons
17/10/2022
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 8 day(s)
 
 25627/24
27/08/2024
Gheorghe REBECA
1976
 
Codlea, Rahova, Mărgineni, Miercurea Ciuc and Aiud Prisons
19/01/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 6 day(s)
 
 25681/24
30/08/2024
Constantin-Daniel SFARC
1987
 
Tulcea Prison
19/01/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 6 day(s)
 
 26010/24
07/09/2024
Gabriel-Marian ŞAPTEFRAŢI
1979
 
Prahova County Police Station; Mioveni Prison; Jilava Prison Hospital
18/04/2019
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 7 day(s)
 
 26506/24
10/09/2024
Nicolae-Adrian ONISEI
1967
 
Suceava County Police Station; Bacău, Iași, Giurgiu, Miercurea Ciuc and Brăila Prisons
08/12/2021
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 17 day(s)
 
 26514/24
10/09/2024
Marcel TUDORACHE
1994
 
Arad Prison
18/10/2021
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 6 day(s)
 
 8503/25
26/02/2025
József KALÁNYOS
1965
 
Miercurea Ciuc, Codlea and Bistrița Prisons
06/05/2021
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 21 day(s)
 
 12235/25
15/04/2025
George Mihăiţă ISTRATE
1977
 
Bucharest-Rahova, Mărgineni and Giurgiu Prisons
05/09/2007
pending
More than 17 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 19 day(s)
 
 13911/25
17/04/2025
Lajos FURUS
1991
 
Aiud Prison
29/08/2024
pending
More than 8 month(s) and 14 day(s)
 
 14876/25
05/05/2025
Gigi-Daniel CONSTANTIN
1975
 
Giurgiu Prison
12/05/2019
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 10 day(s)
 
 14880/25
05/05/2025
Alexandru MAVRICHIE
1989
 
Giurgiu Prison
30/12/2021
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 22 day(s)
 
 14900/25
05/05/2025
Florian-Ică CHIŞU
1988
 
Craiova and Pelendava Prisons
09/04/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 11 day(s)
 
 15327/25
12/05/2025
Gheorghe MITAN
1994
 
Codlea Prison
31/07/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 13 day(s)
 
 15595/25
12/05/2025
Robert Costinel DUMITRAŞCU
1997
 
Craiova, Pelendava and Drobeta-Turnu Severin Prisons
13/06/2019
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 12 day(s)
 
 16185/25
19/05/2025
Florin-Petrică CĂLIN
1982
 
Rahova and Craiova Prisons
05/12/2024
pending
More than 11 month(s) and 27 day(s)
 
 16443/25
15/05/2025
Raul-Gheorghe DĂRĂBAN
1997
 
Oradea Prison
29/08/2021
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 29 day(s)
 
 17257/25
29/05/2025
Alexandru-Cosmin COJOCARU
1989
 
Timișoara and Deva Prisons
01/11/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 3 day(s)
 
 18607/25
11/06/2025
Ionuţ-Andreeas KELEMEN
2005
 
Mioveni Prison
27/03/2025
pending
More than 2 month(s) and 29 day(s)
 
 18854/25
28/05/2025
Carol FOGARAŞI
1993
 
Arad Prison
07/12/2021
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 28 day(s)
 
 18963/25
15/06/2025
Marius-Iulian COCOŞ
1999
 
Craiova Prison
03/01/2023
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 24 day(s)
 
 20028/25
18/06/2025
Albert DACZO
1984
 
Miercurea-Ciuc and Gherla Prisons
02/10/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 2 day(s)
 
 20034/25
25/06/2025
Cornel DIDIN
1981
 
Slobozia and Tulcea Prisons; Rahova Prison Hospital
04/08/2021
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 26 day(s)
 
 20184/25
24/06/2025
Costel MIHAI
1973
 
Botoșani Prison
24/06/2025
pending
More than 3 month(s) and 3 day(s)
 
 20315/25
26/06/2025
Iosif-Adrian KOVACSINSZKI
1986
 
Arad County Police Station, Arad, Deva and Timișoara Prisons
16/06/2021
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 9 day(s)
 
 20333/25
26/06/2025
Gabriel SELEJAN
1977
 
Arad and Timișoara Prisons
12/09/2014
pending
More than 11 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 13 day(s)
 
 20435/25
30/06/2025
Valentin PREDA
1979
 
Slobozia, Craiova and Giurgiu Prisons; Jilava Prison Hospital
18/08/2020
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 7 day(s)
 
 20762/25
01/07/2025
Valentin-Ionel VLAD
2000
 
Craiova and Drobeta-Turnu Severin Prisons
27/06/2022
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 19 day(s)
 
 21191/25
01/07/2025
Gheorghe VOINEA
1988
 
Aiud Prison
01/01/2020
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 24 day(s)
 
 21200/25
26/05/2025
Costel VIȘAN
1982
 
Arad Prison
13/03/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 12 day(s)
 
 21237/25
30/06/2025
Ionuț- Marius COSMA
2003
 
Sibiu and Brașov Police Departments; Coldea, Aiud and Miercurea-Ciuc Prisons
18/09/2022
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 18 day(s)
 
 21766/25
29/05/2025
Sali MUSTAFA
1983
 
Rahova Prison; Jilava and Mioveni Prison Hospitals
01/10/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 28 day(s)
 
 21849/25
08/07/2025
Vasile-Eugen CIOBRA
1988
 
Satu-Mare Prison
02/11/2023
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 21 day(s)
 
 21886/25
07/07/2025
Daniel ŢUŢUDAN
1977
 
Craiova Prison; Jilava, Rahova, Dej and Mioveni Prison Hospitals
17/05/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 11 day(s)
 
 22492/25
14/07/2025
Marian BALGIU
1979
 
Giurgiu Prison
28/03/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 27 day(s)
 
 22531/25
11/07/2025
Florin ROSTAȘ
1985
 
Oradea, Arad, Satu Mare, Timișoara and Bistrița Prisons; Dej and Mioveni Prison Hospitals
22/06/2016
pending
More than 9 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 3 day(s)
 
 22944/25
14/07/2025
István-Sándor VARGA
1987
 
Oradea Prison
02/02/2016
pending
More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 29 day(s)
 
 23393/25
16/07/2025
Stelian-Ilie PETRE
1990
 
Giurgiu County Police Station; Giurgiu Prison
02/08/2022
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 23 day(s)
 
 24228/25
28/07/2025
Ferencz CIURCUI
1987
 
Târgu-Mureș and Găești prisons
24/09/2021
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 19 day(s)
 
 24229/25
24/07/2025
Lucian Bogdan TOPORAN
1988
 
Arad Prison
18/01/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 7 day(s)
 
 24819/25
01/08/2025
Lucian ZANELI
1989
 
Bihor County Police Station; Gherla and Baia Mare Prisons
02/06/2022
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 26 day(s)
 
 25993/25
11/08/2025
Ilie-Daniel LUMÎNĂROIU
1979
 
Râmnicu Vâlcea Police Station, Mioveni and Târgu-Jiu Prisons
01/12/2022
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 27 day(s)
 
 26371/25
14/08/2025
Viorel COȘCODAR
1981
 
Aiud Prison
29/03/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 29 day(s)
 
 26626/25
18/08/2025
Mihăiţă-Marian STAN
1987
 
Craiova and Giurgiu Prisons
16/06/2023
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 12 day(s)
 
 27292/25
21/08/2025
Amarildu-Cezar ROSTAȘ
1980
 
Botoșani Prison
24/07/2020
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 4 day(s)
 
 27425/25
26/08/2025
Simion SOLOMON
1989
 
Botoșani Prison
21/05/2025
pending
More than 3 month(s) and 19 day(s)
 
 27490/25
21/08/2025
Tudor-Cristian UNGUREANU
1972
 
Tulcea, Poarta Albă, Slobozia, Rahova, and Giurgiu Prisons; Poarta Albă Prison Hospital
06/03/2023
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 11 day(s)
 
 29770/25
19/09/2025
Valentin MÎȚĂ
1997
 
Mărgineni and Ploiești Prisons
15/02/2024
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 13 day(s)