CC decision: the "Saint George" bicolour ribbon may be worn
The bicoloured "Saint George" ribbon, which was banned by law, may be worn as long as it does not promote military aggression or crimes against humanity. The Constitutional Court (CC) ruled on the case today after considering petitions submitted last year by a group of MPs from the Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BCS).
"The Court found that the use of attributes or symbols amounts to the expression of an opinion in the form of symbolic speech, and that the prohibition of their use limits the right to freedom of expression. The Court found that the law does not provide for sanctions for the use of prohibited symbols only if they were used for scientific educational purposes or for historical reconstruction activities," said Constitutional Court President Domnica Manole.
On the other hand, one of the authors of the complaints submitted to the CC, Adrian Lebedinschi, said that today the CC partially accepted the complaints submitted earlier by the BCS. He noted that the ribbon can be used except when it is used to promote and justify war.
"The Court in 2022 refused to sign the suspension, then we requested suspension until consideration, partially, our requests were accepted. The CC ruled that the ribbon can be used, except when it is used to promote and justify war. Otherwise, to commemorate the victims of the great war for the defence of the homeland, free citizens can wear this ribbon", said Adrian Lebedinschi.
Several MPs from the Action and Solidarity Party did not return our phone calls to comment on today's CC decision.
Last April, the Parliament approved an amendment to the legislation banning the use of the letters Z and V, used as a symbol of the Russian army and the Saint George ribbon, on the territory of Moldova. Subsequently, MPs from the Bloc of Communists and Socialists challenged the new provisions, but the Constitutional Court has twice rejected the complaints.
Last year, police officers fined more than 160 people for flouting the law at the 9 May parade. They included 17 MPs from the Communist and Socialist Bloc who, contrary to the law, wore the two-coloured ribbon at May Day demonstrations.
In an opinion published in October, the Venice Commission described the ban on symbols of the Russian invasion of Ukraine as legitimate and proportionate.
