Kljub temu država pogodbenica ni obvezana, razen če ni sama zahtevala pregona, priznati učinek ne bis in idem, če je bilo dejanje, na podlagi katerega je izdana sodba, storjeno proti neki osebi, ustanovi ali čemur koli, kar ima javni status v tej državi, ali če je oseba, ki ji je bilo sojeno, sama imela javni status v tej državi.
Nevertheless, a Contracting State shall not, unless it has itself requested the proceedings, be obliged to recognise the effect of ne bis in idem if the act which gave rise to the judgment was directed against either a person or an institution or any thing having public status in that State, of if the subject of the judgment had himself a public status in that State.