Homel: first fine for refusal from fingerprinting
Vasil Paliakou, Chair of the Homel regional organization of the United Civil Party
On 13 April Halina Sytsko, Judge of the Homel Savetski District Court,
fined Vasil Paliakou, Chair of the Homel region organization of the United
Civil Party, 875,000 rubles (about $287) for refusing to be fingerprinted by the
police.
It should be noted that such refusal is not punished by the law, that’s why Mr.
Paliakou was fined under Article 23.4 of the Code of Administrative Offences, “insubordination
to lawful demands of the police”.
The defendant motivated his refusal to give the fingerprints with the following
facts:
1. forced dactylography is a manifestation of adverse discrimination;
2. the law On Dactilography provides
no punishment for refusal from this procedure;
3. the datylography is conducted with the use of the typographic paint which
can have a harmful impact on one’s health;
4. the same roller is used to put the paint on the hands of all people, as a
result of which contagious diseases can be passed from one person to another.
Nevertheless, the judge decided to fine him. The politician disagrees with the
court verdict and is going to appeal it at a higher instance.
The judge also dismissed Paliakou’s motion for allowing the lawyer Leanid
Sudalenka to represent his interests at the trial. He considers it as a
violation of Article 62 of the Constitution which guarantees the right to legal
aid at court.
Human Rights Chronicle
