Crimean schoolchildren are forced to wear St. George’s ribbons

In Crimea schoolchildren are forced to put on St. George’s ribbons at school assembly.

Hromadske radio reports it with reference to one of the pupils’ mother from Simferopol.

«Today a school celebration dedicated to May 9th was held in our school. Schoolchildren must wear St. George’s ribbons. I forbade my child doing that, afterwards our class teacher called me and said that the school principal had made her write a report why some of her schoolchildren had come to the assembly without ribbons while others had. According to the class teacher, the school director also asked why I had forbidden my child to participate at the assembly and whether I was going in this way to be against the state,» one mother said.

In Ukraine producing and propaganda of St. George’s ribbon has prohibited since 2017. Wearing this ribbon in public can be fined. In addition, foreigners with St. George’s ribbons may have been forbidden from entering Ukraine with a travel ban.

Since 2005 St. George’s ribbon has become a symbol of victory in the war between Germany and Soviet Union. In 2014, pro-Russian soldiers in the Donbas began to use St. George’s ribbons. This symbol is also associated with the annexation of Crimea.