4.  The applicant was born in 1975 and is currently serving his sentence in Makeyevka. 5.  On 16 September 1997 the applicant confessed to the murder of Mrs R. On 17 September 1997 he was arrested. On the same day he was questioned. The applicant was remanded in custody. 6.  On 18 September 1997 he was charged with the murder. 7.  On 10 December 1997 the pre-trial investigation was terminated and the case was assigned to the Novoazovsky Court for consideration. 8.  On 22 July 1998 the Novoazovsky Court convicted the applicant of murder and sentenced him to thirteen years' imprisonment. 9.  On 25 August 1998 that judgment was quashed by the Donetsk Regional Court[1], which remitted the case for additional pre-trial examination. 10.  On 21 November 1998 the pre-trial investigation was completed and the case was sent to the court. 11.  On 31 December 1999 the Novoazovsky Court convicted the applicant of murder and sentenced him to thirteen years' imprisonment. 12.  On 13 June 2000 that judgment was quashed by the Donetsk Regional Court. The case was remitted for additional pre-trial investigation. 13.  On 18 August 2000 the pre-trial investigation was completed. 14.  On 15 May 2001 the Novoazovsky Court convicted the applicant of murder and sentenced him to thirteen years' imprisonment. 15.  On 20 November 2001 the Donetsk Regional Court of Appeal (“the court of appeal”) quashed the judgment and ordered additional pre-trial investigation. By the same ruling the court of appeal lifted the preventive measure of detention pending trial. The applicant gave an undertaking not to abscond and was released. 16.  On 4 July 2002 the Supreme Court quashed the ruling of 20 November 2001 and remitted the case to the court of appeal for fresh consideration. 17.  On 19 November 2002 the court of appeal dismissed the applicant's appeal and upheld the judgment of 15 May 2001. The applicant was then arrested. 18.  On 20 November 2003 the Supreme Court upheld the ruling of 19 November 2002 and the judgment of 15 May 2001.