Ukrainians forbidden to refuse ID-cards for religious reasons

A sample of an ID-card

The Cassation Administrative Court of the Supreme Court took an appropriate decision as an exemplary one. In all similar litigation cases, the decision will be binding, reports Ukrainian News.

On February 15, the Supreme Court opened the proceedings for this exemplary case, as it received a corresponding submission from Zhytomir District Administrative Court on the legality of citizens' refusal of ID cards.

"Today, the Supreme Court, as part of the board of judges of the Cassation Administrative Court, refused to satisfy the claim," a spokesperson for the court said.

A suit in court on November 30, 2017 was filed by resident of Korosten, Zhytomir region, Natalia Degtiar. She asked to oblige the State Migration Service to issue her not an ID-card, but a document in the form of a passport booklet.

The appeal is justified by the fact that the plaintiff, because of her religious beliefs and convictions, objects to the passport of a citizen of Ukraine in the form of a card with a contactless electronic carrier containing her personal data.

The plaintiff asserts that the passport of a citizen of Ukraine can be made both in the form of ID-cards, and in the form of a booklet. Consequently, in her opinion, the production of a passport in the form of a contactless card is the right, and not the duty of a citizen.

It is worth noting that, according to paragraph 3 of the Regulation on the passport of a citizen of Ukraine, approved by the Decree of the Supreme Council of Ukraine of 26.06.1992 No. 2503-XII and Article 14 of the Law of Ukraine of 20.11.2012 №5492 "On the Unified State Demographic Register and Documents Confirming Ukrainian Citizenship...", there are two equivalent versions of the document, which certifies the identity of the owner and confirms the citizenship of Ukraine. But on March 21, 2018 the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution banning the registration of a citizen of Ukraine using a book form.

As reported by the UOJ, in 2016 the Theological and Canonical Commission of the UOC supported the right of believers to refuse electronic passports.

In 2017, the Migration Service examined the letter of the Primate of the UOC and explained that it was impossible to "refuse to comply with laws based on religious beliefs."

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