Property owners' association to sue for millions in "moral damages"

Members of the Association for Property Owners have revealed they are planning to sue the Czech Republic for hundreds of millions of crowns in "moral damages" at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. The association is citing contention with the country's policy of regulated rent. Incoming prime minister and - until now - Minister for Local Development Jiri Paroubek has admitted the association could win its case if the state were doing nothing to improve the situation. However, he indicated the government has been preparing new legislation. The legislation proposes the country entering full deregulation in six to eight years' time.