Symbols associated with separatism and Russian imperialism have been banned in Ukraine for almost two years.
Ukrainian border guards spotted a St. George ribbon on the car of a woman from Belarusian town of Kobryn at Damanava border crossing between Brest Oblast and Ukraine’s Volyn region.
The citizen of Belarus will have to pay a fine of 850 UAH for ‘public demonstration of the aggressor country’s symbols and cover court costs.
It is the second time in 2018 that a citizen of Belarus has been fined for St. George ribbon. In January, the maximum fine was imposed on Belarusian tourists who were staying at Bukovel ski resort in Ivano-Frankivsk region.
Last year Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada passed the bill on banning the production and public use of Saint George ribbons. According to the bill, a fine will be imposed public use, demonstration or wearing of such ribbons or their images. In case of further violation, an offender may be fined again or even sentenced to up to 15 days in jail.
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Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian military conflict, St. George ribbon has been the symbol of the occupation of Crimea, as well as pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas. Until recently, it was used in Belarus at the official level during the celebration of Victory Day, but later it was replaced with a ribbon in the national flag colours.
belsat.eu following news-front.info
