The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) may, under Rule 39 of its Rules of Court, indicate interim measures to any contracting state to the European Convention on Human Rights. Interim measures are urgent measures that, according to the Court’s well-established practice, apply only where there is an imminent risk of irreparable harm. Such measures are decided in connection with proceedings before the Court, without prejudging any subsequent decisions on the admissibility or merits of the case in question. In most cases, the applicant requests the suspension of an expulsion or an extradition. The Court grants requests for interim measures only on an exceptional basis, when applicants would otherwise face a real risk of serious and irreversible harm. Such measures are then indicated to the respondent government.