Investigative Committee chief Alexander Bastrykin has proposed piloting a new fingerprinting and DNA registration program in the North Caucasus, drawing criticism from rights activists.
Bastrykin said Friday that he proposes "mandatory fingerprint registration for all citizens living in the North Caucasus region," as well as submission of DNA samples.
The purpose is "to centralize our records and investigate crime," Bastrykin said in a statement.
He said the program could later be introduced nationwide.
Rights activists said the proposal was discriminatory and could stoke anger. "This is going to antagonize people further in an already volatile region," said Tanya Lokshina of the Moscow branch of New York-based Human Rights Watch.
She said it would violate the European Convention of Human Rights, to which Russia subscribes.
(Reuters)