Alexandru Tănase: The "Saint George" ribbon is banned, but enforcement will be problematic
The Constitutional Court has clarified the so-called Saint George ribbon and the letters "Z" and "V". Yesterday's decision was not understood, say communication officers. The criminal sanction is constitutional. However, the police and the courts need to study the context in which these symbols of Russian aggression and war crimes are displayed. The interior minister says that the police will apply sanctions while respecting the right to free expression. Former Constitutional Court President Alexandru Tănase told the programme "In Context" that Putinist symbols are banned in Europe and that he regrets the decision taken by our High Court.
"We will apply all the legal provisions and instruments available to the officials responsible for ensuring that citizens comply with the law, on the one hand, and, on the other, to punish those who violate it. At the same time, we will not infringe on the freedom of every citizen who is an inhabitant of the Republic of Moldova and who enjoys these rights because we are a democratic state," said Interior Minister Ana Revenco.
Last year, MPs amended the law on countering extremism and the code of offences. The public display of the Russian Georgian ribbon or symbols of aggression is punishable by fines of up to nine thousand lei, 18 thousand lei for dignitaries and civil servants and up to 30 thousand lei for legal entities. These sanctions have been validated by the Constitutional Court. On the other hand, extremist intent must be demonstrated. However, the head of parliament's legal committee, Olesea Stamate, says it will be difficult for the police to refute ridiculous justifications, for example: the "V" symbol stands for Valentina. That's one reason why the police might avoid issuing fines. So far more than 800 thousand lei have been collected.
"What concerns last year, during this period for the use of the ribbon 196 offences were found and 174 sanctions were applied. The amount of fines imposed was 884 thousand 750 lei," said IGP press officer Diana Fetco.
Asked about the Constitutional Court's decision on the programme "In Context" on Moldova 1, the former president of the High Court, Alexandru Tănase, said that he did not understand it and that the way it was formulated did not allow the application of sanctions.
"It is a regrettable decision, which I think reduces to zero the possibilities, or rather the government's attempts to be with the whole world, in solidarity with Ukraine in this war. It is the only decision of this kind that I know of by the Constitutional Courts. Putinist symbolism is banned throughout Europe", said Alexandru Tănase.
The Russian Georgievskaya ribbon was introduced by the Russian propaganda machine in the 2000s to promote Moscow's militarism. In 2014, it became the symbol of aggression under the false flag in Donbas. After the full-scale direct Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ribbon was to be banned in the Baltics and other European countries.
