Maria Zakharova said that the ban on wearing St. George’s ribbon exposes Riga in an unattractive light, but not the ribbon on the veteran’s lapel.
“The meaning and background of these actions are quite understandable. Although it is difficult for a person who knows history to understand these explanations, it is possible to explain the situation using the logic of those who build such a policy. Latvia now in many of its political and legal decisions relies on attitudes that directly contradict international legal principles, including the prohibition of discrimination. It is not for nothing that the ribbons of St. George were banned by Latvia, where every tenth inhabitant has the shameful status of “not a citizen,” said Zakharova.
The Seim of Latvia has officially banned the public use of St. George’s ribbons on the territory of the country. There are now more than 4,000 participants in the Great Patriotic War, blockades and logisticians in this Baltic republic. The news instantly caused a wide public and media international resonance.
“The ban on wearing it in one European country puts this state in an unattractive light, but not the ribbon on the veteran’s lapel. I can also assure you that we will defend the historical truth at all international platforms – as we have done up to this day, so we will continue to do this in the future”, said the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
According to Zakharova, the prohibition of symbols that have an international legal basis and are associated with the victory of good over evil is the most senseless thing that can be done in politics.