4.  The applicant was born in 1948 and lives in Zaporizhzhya. 5.  In October 1995 the applicant lodged a claim with the Ordzhonikidzevskyy Court against the local prosecutor’s office and the police department for compensation for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage. In the course of the proceedings he also lodged a similar claim against the State Treasury. 6.  On 22 October 1998 the court delivered a judgment in the applicant’s case. On 21 January 1999 the Zaporizhzhya Regional Court quashed it and remitted the case for fresh consideration. On 19 February 1999, following the protest of the President of the Regional Court, the Presidium of the same court quashed the ruling of 21 January 1999. 7.  On 22 April 1999 the Regional Court quashed the judgment of 22 October 1998 and remitted the case for fresh consideration by the first instance court. 8.  On 9 February 2004 the Ordzhonikidzevskyy Court allowed in part the applicant’s claims and awarded him certain amounts of compensation. 9.  On 23 November 2004 the Zaporizhzhya Regional Court of Appeal quashed the judgment and remitted the case for fresh consideration. On 12 December 2007 the Supreme Court quashed the ruling of 23 November 2004 and remitted the case to the Court of Appeal for fresh consideration. 10.  On 4 March 2008 the Court of Appeal quashed the judgment of 9 February 2004 and rejected the applicant’s claim as unsubstantiated. 11.  On 21 May 2008 the Supreme Court refused to grant leave for the applicant’s appeal in cassation. 12.  According to the Government, in the course of the proceedings the applicant amended his claim and appeals on ten occasions. The courts adjourned twelve hearings following the applicant’s requests or due to his failure to appear, which resulted in several delays of the overall duration of one and a half years. Some thirteen hearings were also adjourned due to the respondents’ failure to appear, absence or sickness of a judge or because the courts needed to collect additional evidence. 13.  In October 1990 the applicant instituted civil proceedings before the domestic courts against the local police department, seeking compensation for damages. These proceedings ended on 19 October 1994 with the court decision partly granting the applicant’s action. 14.  In 1989-1999 the applicant unsuccessfully sought institution of criminal proceedings against certain police officers, who had allegedly taken some of his personal belongings and inflicted light bodily injuries on him.