Showcasing Russia’s St. George ribbon “criminal offense” - Vitsche Berlin

That’s according to a statement released by the Association of Ukrainians in Germany, Vitsche Berlin, Ukrinform reports.

It notes that on May 6, the capital court suspended the ban issued by the police on May 5 on the use of Russian and Soviet flags and the St. George's ribbon during the May 8-9 anniversary events. Earlier, the court suspended the ban on the use of Ukrainian flags and symbols.

"We believe that the demonstration of the St. George ribbon is a criminal offense according to the current legislation as since 2014, it has been used to justify and glorify Russia's attack on Ukraine. In addition, it distorts the memory of World War 2 and serves the Russian propaganda narrative branding Ukrainians as ‘Nazis.’ Therefore, it is not surprising that an urgent request for Russian flags and St. George's ribbon came from Russian propagandist Elena Kolbasnikova and right-wing extremist lawyer and politician Markus Beisicht," the statement reads.

Unlike the "Ukraine case", the Berlin police have already filed a complaint with the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg. Vitsche hopes that the court will consider the use of the symbols of the Russian aggressor as soon as possible and will not allow their use.

It should be recalled that last year, the authorities in Berlin banned the use of both Ukrainian and Russian flags and symbols, as well as song performances. This year, in order to "maintain order," law enforcement decided to apply this requirement again in the three largest sites where the fallen Soviet soldiers are commemorated. Vitsche filed an urgent appeal and got the police ban overturned.