St. George Ribbon. File photoCHISINAU, Apr 20 The Moldovan police will punish any citizen for using symbols prohibited in the country both on Victory Day and at any other time, Viorel Cernauteanu, head of the General Police Inspectorate, said at a briefing on Wednesday. In Moldova, a ban on the St. George ribbon and symbols V and Z came into force on April 20. The authorities introduced liability for the manufacture, sale, distribution, storage for distribution and public use of well-known attributes and symbols used in connection with acts of military aggression. Individuals face a fine of $245 to $490 or community service, officials a fine of $490 to $980, and legal entities $490 to $1,630. from any citizen in all situations,» Cerneuteanu said, answering the question of how the police would react to the use of prohibited symbols on Victory Day. The St. George ribbon consists of three black and two orange stripes, it is an integral part of many military awards of the Russian Empire, USSR and Russian Federation. At the beginning of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014, this symbol was used by militia fighters and volunteers who fought on the side of the DPR and LPR against the Ukrainian security forces. The Latin letters Z and V are painted on the sides of Russian military equipment participating in the military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. In Russia, the letter Z has already become an unofficial symbol of support for the operation.
