The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

On 10 January Vasil Paliakou, head of the Homel regional branch of the United Civil Party, filed an individual communication with the UN Human Rights Committee concerning violation of Article 14 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by the Republic of Belarus by forced dactylography.

Salihorsk-based civil activist Aliaksei Valabuyeu received a telephone call to his mobile. A police inspector told him to come for fingerprinting. Aliaksei refused, as he had been fingerprinted before. He also told the policeman that he could come to them only after receiving an official summon.

Pinsk resident Andrei Asavets has been fined BYR 700 for resisting compulsory fingerprinting, after he demanded to provide official grounds for the examination, the Vecherniy Brest newspaper reports.

Ryhor Lukianchuk, railway employee from the town of Malaryta, Brest region, is to stand trial for violating Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code (“disobeying authority”), after he refused to undergo forced fingerprinting.

The police and the administration of Lida College conduct mass dactylography of students. According to a teacher of the college who asked not to mention his name, mass dactylography is conducted in Lida college of Hrodna university.