4.  The applicants were born in 1944 and 1936 respectively and live in Brno. 5.  On 28 December 1992 the applicants prepared a civil action against the private company V. and Ms M. for the return of their ownership share in the private company V., amounting to CZK 120,000 (EUR 4,229). According to the Government, having received the applicants’ action on 13 January 1993, the Brno Regional Commercial Court (krajský obchodní soud) sent it to the defendants for their written comments. 6.  On 20 July 1994 the applicants requested the court to accept an extension of their action to include Mr S. and the private company R. as defendants. The court received the request on 10 August 1994. 7.  On 20 September 1994 the applicants requested the court to adopt interim measures against Ms M., but the court did not react to their request. 8.  On 20 January 1997 the court accepted the applicants’ extension of their action, against which Mr S. and the company R. appealed on 3 February 1997. The next day, the appeal was sent to the other parties to the proceedings. On 3 July 1997 the appellants were invited to supplement their appeal. 9.  On 21 July 1999 the Olomouc High Court (vrchní soud) received new submissions. On 30 November 1999 it sent the case back to the Regional Commercial Court. 10.  On 2 June 2000 the second applicant, upon the court’s request of 3 May 2000, provided information as to the name of his legal representative in 1997. 11.  On 4 October 2001 the Regional Commercial Court invited the appellants, once again, to supplement their appeal. 12.  On 5 February and 14 May 2002 respectively, the court contacted the central register of citizens (centrální evidence obyvatel) to determine the second defendant’s domicile. 13.  On 2 June 2003 the court asked the Czech Post Office (Česká pošta) about the effective delivery of mail to the second defendant. It repeated its request on 5 January and 30 June 2004 respectively. 14.  It appears that the proceedings are still pending before the High Court.