A new bill that will ban the wearing of the bicolor ribbon will be introduced into Parliament. PAS MP Lilian Carp said the Constitutional Court’s decision by which the wearing of the ribbon of Saint George is recognized as constitutional if this ribbon does not promote military aggression is strange and illogical. He noted that the Court’s decision made the work of the Ministry of Home Affairs more difficult as the representatives of this institution will have to prove in court if the fined persons promoted the military aggression or not, IPN reports.
Tens of citizens wore the bicolor ribbon during events held to celebrate Victory Day on May 9. The author of the bill that prohibits the ribbon of Saint George said the CC’s decision is ambiguous, while the police officers who drew up reports against those who wore the ribbon acted in accordance with the law.
“The Constitutional Court’s decision impeded further the work of the Ministry of Home Affairs as the police fined a number of persons who wore the ribbon of Saint George and in court they will have to prove that these symbols were worn to promote the aggression of the Russian army. The police officers who drew up reports acted legally as the Constitutional Court didn’t repeal the law, but only specified when this symbol promotes military aggression and when it does not,” Lilian Carp stated in the program “Résumé” on RliveTV channel.
The MP of the ruling party noted that a similar bill that will ban the use of symbols that promote military aggression will be proposed.
“Work is done on such a bill and this will be registered. This is one of the few bills to which the Venice Commission didn’t have major objections. It had objections only to the contraventions section. The Constitutional Court’s decision is strange. Therefore, the new bill will be registered with the Venice Commission’s opinion on contraventions. The Constitutional Court’s explanation that the ribbon can be worn when it does not symbolize the Russian expansion into Ukraine is absurd as it is clear that any person who wears it supports the Russian Federation and its aggression. According to this logic, someone who wears the swastika only because it is “beautiful” does not fall under the provisions that ban fascism and extremism, which is inadmissible. That’s why the Constitutional Court’s decision is illogical,” said Lilian Carp.
The leader of the Party of Socialist Igor Dodon on Tuesday announced that his party will launch a hotline to provide legal aid to the persons against whom the police compiled reports over the wearing of the ribbon of Saint George.
