Moldova issues 180 fines against people wearing St. George ribbon

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 May 2023 19:42

The Moldovan police announced that they will issue about 180 fines against people who wore the St. George ribbon on Victory Day given that the country outlawed the ribbon last year.

Victory Day Parade in Chisinau, Moldova, May 9, 2023 (Social Media)

The General Inspectorate of Moldova announced on Wednesday that 180 fines are to be issued for wearing St. George's ribbons while participating in recent Victory Day celebrations after the ribbon was outlawed by the Moldovan government earlier last year.

Numerous Victory Day ceremonies were held in Moldova on May 9. Igor Dodon, a former president of Moldova, was one of several attendees who donned the Saint George's ribbon in black and orange, which is a representation of the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany.

🇲🇩 “The Immortal Regiment” was held in Chișinău, Moldova. Many came with St. George’s ribbons - despite the threats of the authorities to fine for it. Former President Igor Dodon also came to the march with a St. George ribbon. pic.twitter.com/JhRqwnEHsp
— 🅰pocalypsis 🅰pocalypseos 🇷🇺 🇨🇳 🅉 (@apocalypseos) May 9, 2023

"The police officers watched public order and provided security at public events. We noted 180 violations related to the illegal wearing of the St. George's ribbon, 16 perpetrators are civil servants, including nine parliament members. 15 protocols were made and nine notifications were handed on the spot, seven testimonies were heard. The rest [of the violators] will be invited to police stations, fines will be issued," the department said.

The ban on wearing the St. Georges ribbon was criticized by the Moldovan opposition who continued to celebrate Victory Day across 500 Moldovan cities and towns. Almost 43,000 people took part in the various events, the Moldovan police said.

The opposition, in contrast, estimated that no less than 100,000 people took part in the celebratory events in Chisinau, only, noting that 30,000 more were unable to reach the capital due to police prohibitions.

Poland displays hostile behavior on Victory Day

Moscow will convey its displeasure to Poland over hostile behavior toward Russian diplomats at a memorial cemetery on May 9, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"The Polish Foreign Ministry was informed about the ceremony planned by the embassy, but the Polish authorities did not prevent the provocative actions of the 'protesters.' The Polish side will receive our strong protest," said the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"Such policy of the Polish authorities will not be left without a proper reaction," the ministry concluded.

Moreover, the statement read "We consider this action as another manifestation of an unfriendly attitude on the part of the Polish side and, above all, an insult to the memory of more than 600,000 Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of Poland from German occupation," noting that the incident demonstrates "the hypocrisy of Warsaw's policy in assessing the events of World War II and attempts to forget the role of our people in saving the countries of Europe enslaved by Nazi Germany."

The Russian ambassador to Poland was not allowed to lay flowers at the memorial cemetery to the Soviet liberators in Warsaw. pic.twitter.com/NgIg0jid4w
— Spriter (@Spriter99880) May 9, 2023

"Such policy of the Polish authorities will not be left without a proper reaction," the ministry concluded.
Earlier in the day, an angry crowd obstructed the route of Russian Ambassador to Poland Sergey Andreev as he headed to a memorial cemetery in Warsaw to lay flowers on Victory Day.

The crowd demanded that the ambassador take off the St. George ribbon off his jacket. Andreev was unable to put a wreath at the cemetery and was forced to leave the memorial.