4.  The applicant was born in 1944 and lives in the town of Torez, Ukraine.
First set of proceedings 5.  On 5 November 1998 the applicant instituted proceedings in the Torez Town Court against the Torezantratsyt State Company, his former employer, seeking recalculation of his monthly payments for work-related damage and compensation for non-pecuniary damage. On 13 July 2000 the court found in part for the applicant and awarded him a lump sum of 948.27 Ukrainian hryvnias (UAH), and UAH 50.48 to be paid monthly. The defendant appealed and on 14 August 2000 the Donetsk Regional Court (from June 2001 the Donetsk Regional Court of Appeal) quashed that judgment and remitted the case to the lower court for a fresh examination. 6.  At this stage of proceedings the Ukrvuglerestrukturyzatsiya State Company (ДК «Укрвуглереструктуризація») (“Company no. 1”) was joined as co-defendant. 7.  On 5 February 2003 the Torez Town Court found in part for the applicant and ordered the Company no. 1 to pay the applicant the lump sum of UAH 4,574.33 and UAH 122.90[1] in monthly life-time instalments. According to the applicant, that judgment was not appealed against and became final. 8.  In that regard, on an unspecified date the State Bailiffs' Service instituted proceedings to enforce the judgment. 9.  In the course of those proceedings the applicant requested the Torez Town Court to replace the debtor with another company, the Donvuglerestrukturyzatsiya State Company (ДП «Донвуглереструктуризація») (“Company no. 2”). On 2 June 2004 the court turned down that request. 10.  On 11 October 2004 the Ministry of Fuel and Energy started the process of liquidation of Company no. 1. 11.  On 27 September 2006 by a decision of the Ministry of Coal Industry Company no. 1 was merged with Company no. 2. 12.  On 29 December 2007 Company no. 2 was reorganised in its turn and merged with the Ukrvugletorfrestrukturyzatsiya State Company (ДП «Укрвуглеторфреструктуризація») (“Company no. 3”). 13.  On 9 April 2009 the Bailiffs' Service requested the Torez Town Court to replace the debtor in the case. On the same day the enforcement proceedings were stayed pending the court's decision. 14.  On 23 June 2009 the court rejected the Bailiffs' Service's request. 15.  The judgment of 5 February 2003 remains unenforced.
Second set of proceedings 16.  In January 2001 the applicant instituted proceedings in the Torez Town Court against the local State Social Security Department, seeking compensation for the allegedly incorrect calculation of his pension. On 27 February 2001 the court found against the applicant. On 23 April 2001 the Donetsk Regional Court upheld that judgment.
Third set of proceedings 17.  In April 2002 the applicant instituted proceedings in the Donetsk Regional Court of Appeal against the Torez Town Court, seeking compensation for the lengthy examination of his claim against the Torezantratsyt State Company. On 11 April 2002 the court found that domestic legislation did not confer on the applicant a right to lodge claims against lower courts if he was not satisfied with their administration of justice. On 25 November 2002 the same court dismissed appeals by the applicant against that decision for procedural shortcomings. The applicant did not appeal against the latter decision.
Fourth set of proceedings 18.  In October 2003 the applicant instituted proceedings in the Torez Town Court against Company no. 2, seeking salary arrears and compensation for non-pecuniary damage. On 23 July 2004 the court dismissed his claim as statute-barred. On 7 October 2004 and 25 July 2007 respectively the Donetsk Regional Court of Appeal and the Kyiv City Court of Appeal, sitting as a court of cassation, upheld that judgment.