Belarusian Priest Faces Trial For Refusing To Be Fingerprinted

A Belarusian Orthodox priest in the western city of Hrodna is facing administrative charges for refusing to be fingerprinted, as required by law.

The Minsk-based human rights center Vyasna said that Mikalay Hayduk would face trial on June 12 at Hrodna's Lenin district court.

Hrodna authorities have been making home visits to compel men who have not yet given police their fingerprints to do so.

Activists say Hayduk refused to be fingerprinted when police visited him earlier this month.

Belarus authorities introduced mandatory fingerprinting for all men in the country after a terrorist attack in Minsk on July 4, 2008.

WIth reporting by Interfax and charter97.org