In fact this is all a bit silly — you couldn’t make it up. Thus, you probably won’t be too surprised to learn that it involves politics, specifically a candidate for election in the Moscow Region district of Sergiyev Posad — one Sergei Pakhomov.
Znak.com reported yesterday how Mr Pakhomov has used 3D printing to open up a loophole in Russian electoral campaign rules. The rules clear state that the giving of gifts — mugs, pens, bags etc that sort of thing— to voters is strictly prohibited. However those same rules do permit the distribution of printed leaflets.
Thus, when Mr Pakhomov used a 3D printer to “print” a run of “mug shaped leaflets” and subsequently handed them out, Russian electoral officials were left at a bit of a loss as to how best to proceed because wholly printed media are permitted.
It’s quite clearly an exploitation of the rules, and 3D printing has made it possible. Quite whether it has the desired effect remains to be seen, the election takes place this coming Sunday. Although, with the headlines he is garnering Mr Pakhomov can’t be too disappointed with the publicity.
It will also mean that a change, or a least some sort of tweak, to Russian electoral law will be required to differentiate between 2D and 3D printing — at least if they want to re-level the playing field. Either that, or sales of 3D printers in Russia are going to be going up!
