Grosu: Police Will Continue to Penalize Wearing St. George’s Ribbon

The police of Moldova will fine for wearing St. George's ribbon, despite the Constitutional Court ruling, which states the rights of citizens to self-expression. Igor Grosu, the chairman of the Moldovan parliament and the ruling Action and Solidarity Party said about it in an interview with PRO TV. According to him, “the ruling of the Constitutional Court has slightly disoriented people,” some people interpret it incorrectly. “Nothing has changed: all those who will display this symbol of aggression will be documented and prosecuted, just like last year [May 9],” Grosu said. The decision to ban the St. George’s Ribbon in Moldova was approved in early 2022 by deputies of the ruling pro-European Action and Solidarity Party, and then by President Maia Sandu. Individuals wearing, displaying or disseminating this symbol will face fines of 4.5 thousand to 9 thousand lei ($250 to $500). In April 2023, the Constitutional Court of Moldova, at the request of socialist deputies, ruled that the ban on wearing the St. George’s ribbon was legal, but the punishment for using it can be applied only if the law enforcement agencies can prove that its use is the propaganda of war and aggression.