The Tula Ombudsman promised to protect the rights of children because of the “Smeshariki” drawing

The Commissioner for Human Rights in the Tula Region, Alexander Golovin, said that the rights of the child, whom the administration of the Tula city of Bolokhovo decided to prosecute for drawing “Smeshariki” on the playground, will be fully ensured.

Information about filing a police report against a child who drew characters from the cartoon “Smeshariki” on the rubber surface of a playground appeared on the official VKontakte page of the administration of the city of Bolokhovo, Kireyevsky district. The authorities stated that “such actions are subject to liability under Article 214 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Vandalism) and Article 167 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Deliberate damage to property).”

They also emphasized that the author and his parents, until the official completion of the inspection, “have the opportunity to voluntarily eliminate the consequences - to restore the coverage to its original form,” which will be regarded “as a mitigating circumstance and may affect the measure of liability.” However, local residents in the comments to the publication came to the child’s defense, condemning the administration’s actions.

“The issue has been taken under control, we have begun an investigation. Based on its results, we will assess all the circumstances of what happened. Of course, we will not harm the child, his rights will be ensured in full,” Golovin said.

He added that he would contact the prosecutor's office to conduct an investigation, and would also ask for the position of local governments.

Later, the administration of Bolokhovo published a new message in which it said that the girl painted with dry pastels that could not be wiped off. When trying to remove the drawings with a solvent, the color was smeared across the surface of the rubber coating. The authorities said that this covering is not a place for creativity. In addition, they recalled that administrative liability is provided for public insults that some users left in comments addressed to the administration.

“I think a drawing, especially a beautiful drawing, is not a terrible thing at all to act in this way,” emphasized the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Tula Region.