The symbols and elements that promote acts of military aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity are banned in the Republic of Moldova. Among these are the bicolor black-orange ribbon known as the ribbon of Saint George and the letters “Z” and “V”. The persons who will spread the banned symbols, including online, will be fined, as a bill to amend the Contravention Code provides, IPN reports.
PAS MP Lilian Carp told a news conference that it comes to an amendment that refers to the signs, letters and codes used in Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. “Regrettably, these signs are used on the territory of the Republic of Moldova as well. As these signs generally justify the military aggression against Ukraine, we considered it is necessary to amend the legislation so as not to allow glorifying these on the territory of the Republic of Moldova,” explained Lilian Carp, who heads the Parliament’s commission on national security, defense and public order.
The making, sale, spreading and public use of these elements and symbols will be punished with a fine of 4,500 to 9,000 lei or 30 to 60 hours of community service in the case of private individuals. For legal entities or persons holding responsible posts, the fine is of 9,000 to 18,000 lei. The given violations will be ascertained by the Ministry of Home Affairs through the agency of the police.
He noted that these symbols include flags, colored ribbons, emblems, graphic elements, letters, digits and combinations of these, insignias, uniforms, slogans, greeting ways and other signs used by participants in military operations, war crimes or crimes against humanity. “Our objective is to bring such practices to an end, primarily because some of those who entered Ukraine wear this bicolor ribbon that is now present on the uniform of soldiers of the Russian Federation. Letters “Z” and “V” are also symbols of the military aggression,” said the MP.
According to Lilian Carp, these regulations have nothing to do with World Wart II, whose victims should be commemorated, or with the Victory Day that is marked on May 9. The celebration of the Victory Day is not banned, as some state.
