There are three Ribbons of Saint George that are different from each other. The ribbon worn now by the supporters of this symbol is different from the initial one by the tone of colors and by the form of lines, the director of the Resource Center for Human Rights (CreDO) Sergiu Ostaf said in the public debate “Ribbon of Saint George that unites and divides: motives and solutions” that was staged by IPN News Agency together with Radio Moldova.

According to Sergiu Ostaf, there is a hypothesis that the Moldovan political parties use this symbol to cultivate and maintain particular separatist aspirations, as the practice in Ukraine shows. The expert subscribes to the historical aspect of the symbol, saying it is an attempt to substitute a symbol with another, adding that he hopes that those parties use it in a move to identify themselves with it, not to fragment the country.

Sergiu Ostaf noted that the use of the Ribbon of Saint George is supported not only by politicians, as the Liberals, who want this symbol to be banned. There are also other social categories favoring this ribbon.

The expert considers it is dangerous to ban this symbol. The parties should have a responsible behavior and explain to the people that in some states this symbol is used as a separatist one, while in Moldova it has another meaning. “This symbol should be used in contrast to other symbolic elements. A solution to unite society is to use two symbols together – the ribbon and a symbol of Moldova,” he stated.

The public debate “Ribbon of Saint George that unites and divides: motives and solutions” is the 38th of the series of debates “Developing political culture through public debates”, organized by IPN with support from the German foundation “Hanns Seidel”.