Люстрація і права людини

Abstract

Статтю присвячено аналізу природи і мети люстрації як процесу очищення влади, що відбувала- ся у посткомуністичних країнах Центральної та Східної Європи, та її зв’язку з принципом поваги до прав людини. Розглянуто деякі рішення Європейського суду з прав людини щодо люстраційних заходів та їхніх наслідків.

The article aims at analyzing the nature and purpose of lustration as a process of power purification that has taken place in post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as its connection with human rights respect. As concluded, the lustration, being a political phenomenon, has the purpose to provide post authoritarian states with their transition from cruelty and repression towards democracy. Furthermore, this process has both punitive and preventive nature: on the one hand, it aims at punishing for the offence of the previous repressive regime; on the other hand, it prevents new democracies from individuals who may threaten them because of their past. In this case, lustration allows vetting and banning such persons from being public officials for several periods. This process is an instrument of democracy defending itself, including political loyalty of public officials. Although lustration is a necessary and integral component of transitional justice, it has to be implemented with respect of human rights and the rule of law. International legal documents, such as Resolution 1096 (1996) adopted by the Council of Europe`s Parliamentary Assembly, do not prohibit or judge lustration. However, this process must be due and fair regarding human rights. Otherwise, the European Court of Human Rights considers lustration measures as the violation of rights guaranteed by the European Convention of Human Rights. According to its relevant judgments, ECHR often points out to the abuse of discretion by States, the disproportion and excessive severity of lustration measures. In conclusion, lustration should be implemented in balancing between democracy defending itself and protecting human rights.