Accident-Moscow.jpg (Photo : Reuters)
All those suffering from mental and behavioral problems, which includes "sex disorders," will be banned from driving in Russia, as per a decree signed on Dec. 29, 2014 by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Officials in Russia will now have the power to ban people with gender identity problems such as transsexualism, dual role transvestism and all those with other "sex disorders" from driving.
This is part of a long list of a document titled "On Road Safety," that disqualifies people suffering from voyeurism, kleptomania or compulsive theft and other mental disorders from driving, reported BBC.
"Sex disorders," as per the decree, include sadomasochism, paedophilia and exhibitionism. The set of mental conditions is well defined in the recent manual by the World Health Organization for classifying illnesses, commonly known as the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems or ICD-10, as per Buzz Feed.
The move is not surprising since the Russian government began its' campaign against LGBT people way back in 2013 with the adoption of 'homosexual propaganda' ban.
However, not all support the ban on driving, calling it "discriminatory." According to Valery Evtushenko at the Russian Psychiatric Association, many people would now be reluctant to seek psychiatric help fearing ban on driving.
The Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights said that they would approach the international human rights organizations for support, and further added that the Russian Constitutional Court owes them an explanation.
However, the Professional Drivers Union is very happy, and is of the opinion that number of deaths on the road can be curbed by the new law. "I believe toughening medical requirements for applicants are fully justified," said Alexander Kotov, head of the union.
Mikhail Strakhov, a Russian psychiatric expert, does not support the decree, and said that the definition of the so-called "mental disorders" is vague and need not necessarily have any impact on a person's driving abilities.
