(Tony Sifert, Headline USA) Germany has banned any use of the Russian military’s white “Z” symbol that indicates support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to a report in Politico.
Let’s discuss what’s happening in Russia. To put it simply, it’s going full fascist. Authorities launched a propaganda campaign to gain popular support for their invasion of Ukraine and they’re getting lots of it. You can see “Z” on these guys’ clothes. What does it mean? 🧵 pic.twitter.com/F2zjcpJCDZ
— Kamil Galeev (@kamilkazani) March 6, 2022
“The white ‘Z’ became a symbol of Russia‘s war after being painted on military vehicles taking part in the invasion of Ukraine,” Politico reported. “Its meaning is not clear.”
“The Russian war of aggression on the Ukraine is a criminal act, and whoever publicly approves of this war of aggression can also make himself liable to prosecution,” a spokesman for an Interior Ministry told reporters.
“The letter Z as such is of course not forbidden, but its use may in individual cases constitute an endorsement of the Russian war of aggression,” the spokesman continued.
A section of Germany’s criminal code prohibits the “incitement to crime of aggression,” and a display of the “Z” would be prosecuted in that context, NPR reported.
At The Volokh Conspiracy, law professor Eugene Volokh criticized the decision.
“How can a democracy, which presumably has to decide through democratic means what to do about the Russia-Ukraine war, criminalize support for one or the other side,” Volokh asked.
“I don’t agree with it, in part because of the risk that suppressing one kind of speech will lead to suppression of other kinds,” he continued.
Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak was investigated by the International Gymnastics Federation after wearing a white Z on his chest during a March 6 performance and on the podium at the 2022 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Doha, Qatar.
Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak wearing the “Z” pro-invasion symbol on his shirt while sharing a podium with a Ukrainian rival on Saturday.
Kuliak finished third – behind winner Ukraine’s Illia Kovtun in the parallel bars at a World Cup event in Doha. pic.twitter.com/evtG1iEBgq
— Megha Mohan (@meghamohan) March 6, 2022
“The International Gymnastics Federation confirms that it will ask the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation to open disciplinary proceedings against male artistic gymnast Ivan Kuliak (RUS) following his shocking behaviour at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha, Qatar,” an FIG statement said.
Kuliak defended his decision in an interview with Russia Today, according to Fox News.
“I saw it with our military and looked at what this symbol means — it turned out, ‘for victory’ and ‘for peace,'” Kuliak said. “As an athlete, I will always fight for victory and stand for peace.”
