President Petro Poroshenko signed a law banning the manufacture and propaganda of the St. George ribbon in Ukraine, the president's website reported on Monday, 12 June. The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill "On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses Regarding the Prohibition of Production and Propagation of St. George's Ribbon" on 16 May.
"The ribbon is not a symbol of the Second World War. It symbolizes the 2014-2017 aggression against Ukraine. Donbas militants donning these ribbons kill our soldiers every day and night," Poroshenko said during a ceremony commemorating the victims of political repression on 21 May.
Russia's policy towards Ukraine has put this ribbon outside the law, he added
Under the new law, public use, demonstration or wearing of the St. George ribbon or its image. The misdemeanour may entail the imposition of a fine of 50 to 150 non-taxable minimum incomes with the confiscation of the St. George ribbon or objects containing its images.
The same actions committed repeatedly or the manufacture, or distribution of the St. George ribbon are punishable by a fine of 150 to 300 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens or administrative arrest of up to 15 days.
The law comes into force from the day following the day of its publication.