New Law Mandates DNA Sampling of Convicts, Suspects, and Administrative Arrestees
Starting May 4, 2023, all individuals serving sentences in places of imprisonment, as well as those suspected or accused of crimes, and citizens subjected to administrative arrest, must provide a DNA sample for state genomic registration in the Russian Federation. This directive is in accordance with Federal Law No. 8-ФЗ, “On Amending the Federal Law on State Genomal Registration in the Russian Federation” and individual legislative acts of the Russian Federation.
The law considers genomic information as biometric personal data and further requires the registration of genomic information for unidentified corpses. However, if convicts, suspects, or accused detainees receive rehabilitation, their biometric data and DNA collected can be destroyed. There is also a provision for individuals arrested under an administrative article regarding the collection of DNA.
Prior to the implementation of Law No. 8-FZ, DNA collection was mandatory only for convicts who committed serious or especially serious crimes. The law also mandated DNA collection for all crimes against sexual integrity and sexual freedom of personality, as well as from unidentified persons whose biological material is removed during investigative actions.
The law was under consideration in 2020 and was approved in the first reading. Later, it was passed into law in the third reading at the end of January 2023.