Interception of Asylum Seekers at Sea in Distress from the European Court of Human Rights’ Perspective

Rescuing people from distress at sea is one of events to the Coastal State is involved. But some EU member states in recent years not only do not save people from distress at sea, but also they have begun overseas controls, interception asylum seekers and returning them from the High Seas, Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial sea to home or third state. Purpose and subject of this article is to study different dimensions of the Coastal State obligations in rescuing people from distress from the European Court of Human Rights’ view. The research method is analytical descriptive, based on requirements of the UNCLOS, the Asylum Convention and the European Court of Human Rights’ jurisprudence. Main research question is what is the International Law of the Sea approach to interception asylum seekers rescued from distress at sea? Research findings show that rescuing people from distress at sea based on the International Law of the Sea teachings is the Coastal State obligations and the rights of survivors. But the Coastal State’s approach is severe ban in the ECHR’ jurisprudence to overseas control and interception of ships carrying asylum seekers in distress at the High Sea to return them to the home or third state from the High Seas has led to ignoring its obligations and the rights of survivors in the UNCLOS.