Estonia/ Tallinn Circuit Court / 3-23-448

Country

Estonia

Title

Estonia/ Tallinn Circuit Court / 3-23-448

View full case

Year

2024

Decision/ruling/judgment date

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Incident(s) concerned/related

Discrimination

Related Bias motivation

Migrant status

Groups affected

Refugees & asylum seekers

Court/Body type

National Court

Court/Body

Tallinn Circuit Court /Tallinna Ringkonnakohus

Key facts of the case

The court case pertains to an appeal against the denial of a residency permit to a Jordanian national due to alleged sham marriage to an Estonian citizen. The lower court upheld the denial; the appeal court affirms the decision.

Main reasoning/argumentation

The court determined the marriage lacked sufficient evidence of genuine intent. The lack of cohabitation, limited interaction, and questionable financial relationships between the couple contributed to the denial of residency. The court largely accepted the lower court's findings.

Is the case related to the application of the Framework Decision on Racism and Xenophobia, the Racial Equality Directive?

Key issues (concepts, interpretations) clarified by the case

The case highlights the burden of proof in establishing genuine marriage for residency purposes and the court's role in reviewing administrative decisions. The court emphasizes the necessity of substantial evidence demonstrating a genuine marital relationship and a shared life beyond the mere formal registration of marriage.

Results (sanctions, outcome) and key consequences or implications of the case

The appeal court upheld the denial of the residency permit and the deportation order. This highlights the stringent requirements for obtaining residency through marriage and the limitations on judicial review of administrative decisions in this area.

Key quotation in original language and its unofficial translation into English with reference details

Olenemata sellest, et abielu registreerimine võis toimuda väga kitsas ringis ning pulmapidu ei peetud, ei saa pidada tavapäraseks, et abikaasad ei ole pidanud vajalikuks abielu sõlmimist mingil viisil jäädvustada (nt kasvõi telefoniga selvefoto tegemisega) ning neil ei ole isegi kaks kuud pärast abiellumist PPA-le esitada muid ühiseid fotosid peale kahel kohtumisel kaubanduskeskuses ja söögikohas tehtud selfide. (para 21) "Regardless of the fact that the marriage registration may have taken place in a very narrow circle and the wedding party was not held, it cannot be considered normal that the spouses did not consider it necessary to record the marriage in any way (e.g. even by taking a selfie with their phone) and they do not even have two months after the marriage to submit joint photos to the PPA other than selfies taken during two meetings in a shopping center and a restaurant."

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.