4.  The applicant was born in 1952 and lives in the town of Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine. 5.  The applicant, being the Head of the Zaporizhzhya Airport Customs Office, gave an instruction to the customs officers that the deputies of the local councils should be exempted from customs inspections when crossing the Ukrainian border. 6.  In the period from 9 March 1998 to 22 May 1998 criminal proceedings were instituted against Mr Ch., Mr S., Mr B., Mr M., Mrs N. and Mrs K. in connection with smuggling goods to Ukraine. The criminal proceedings against Mr B., Mr M. and Mrs N. were later discontinued. 7.  On 22 May 1998 criminal proceedings were instituted against the applicant. She was charged with exceeding her powers. 8.  On 11 August 1998 the proceedings against the applicant, Mr Ch. and Mrs K. were joined. 9.  On 5 June 1998 the applicant gave a written undertaking not to abscond. 10.  On 17 June 1998 the applicant was charged with taking a bribe. 11.  On 18 June 1998 the applicant was arrested. She was remanded in custody. 12.  On 7 September 1998 the preliminary investigation was terminated and the case was transferred to the court. 13.  On 12 May 1999 the Zaporizhzhya Regional Court[1] convicted the applicant of criminal negligence and sentenced her to 10 months and 24 days' imprisonment. Since the applicant had already served her sentence she was released on the same date. By the same judgment the court required the applicant to give an undertaking not to abscond. 14.  On 16 September 1999 the Supreme Court quashed that judgment and remitted the case for fresh consideration to the Zaporizhzhya Regional Court on the ground that the latter had failed to examine all the circumstances of the case. 15.  On 16 March 2000 the Zaporizhzhya Regional Court convicted the applicant of criminal negligence and sentenced her to 10 months and 24 days' imprisonment. Since the applicant had already served her sentence she was exempted from serving it. By the same judgment the court placed the applicant under an obligation not to abscond. 16.  On 1 June 2000 the Supreme Court quashed the judgment of 16 March 2000 and remitted the case for fresh consideration to the Leninsky District Court of Zaporizhzhya on the ground that the Zaporizhzhya Regional Court had failed to examine all the circumstances of the case. 17.  On 3 August 2000 the Leninsky District Court of Zaporizhzhya remitted the case to the prosecution service for additional investigation. 18. On 25 December 2000 the additional investigation was terminated and the case was transferred to the court. 19.  On 15 October 2001 the Leninsky District Court of Zaporizhzhya convicted the applicant of criminal negligence and sentenced her to one year's imprisonment. The applicant was exempted from serving her sentence since the charges against her had become subject to a time limitation. By the same judgment the court removed the undertaking not to abscond. 20.  On 10 December 2001 the Zaporizhzhya Regional Court of Appeal upheld this judgment. 21.  On 8 October 2002 the Supreme Court quashed the ruling of 10 December 2001 and remitted the case for fresh consideration to the Court of Appeal on the ground that the latter had failed to examine in due manner the appeals lodged by the applicant, Mr Ch. and Mrs K. 22.  On 18 December 2002 the Zaporizhzhya Regional Court of Appeal quashed the judgment of 15 October 2001 and remitted the case for additional investigation to the prosecutor's office. 23.  On 24 September 2003 the Leninsky District Court of Zaporizhzhya terminated the criminal proceedings against the applicant since the charges against her had become subject to a time limitation.