Latvian parliament official bans the use of Ribbon of St.George at public events

On Thursday, 11 November, Latvia’s Saeima passed in the third reading amendments to the Law on Meetings, Processions, and Pickets and Law on the Safety of Public Entertainment and Festivity Events, banning the use of the Ribbon of St.George at public, entertainment and memorial events, as well as meetings, processions and pickets, as reported by Saeima’s press-service.
«Considering Russia’s expansion in Ukraine and its totalitarian ideology in relation to former USSR republics, Latvia has reason to believe there is sufficient threat to its democratic order and security. The meaning of the Ribbon of St.George as a symbol has changed over the course of time. By banning it, we would be able to limit the signs of the aforementioned ideology,» said chairman of Saeima’s Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee Artuss Kaimiņš at a previous meeting.
«We have to present our values and demonstrate our position against the use of these ribbons at public events very clearly.»
Until now the Law on Meetings, Processions, and Pickets and Law stated that residents are not allowed to use, even in stylized form, flags, uniforms and uniform elements of the former USSR and Nazi Germany at meetings, processions and pickets.
Additionally, it is not allowed in Latvia to use use flags, coat of arms, anthems, and symbols (also in stylized form) of former USSR, Latvian SSR, and Nazi Germany.
A similar prohibition is also in place in the Law on the Safety of Public Entertainment and Festivity Events. One exception is when the use of those elements is not related to the glorification of totalitarian regimes or the justification of the crimes committed or if the use of those elements is done for educational, scientific or artistic purposes.