The Ukrainian parliament today approved a law banning “Communist and Nazi regimes,” outlawing all such political parties and the symbols related to them. It also criminalizes any denial of the “criminal character” of such regimes.
The move will primarily ban old Soviet-era flags and monuments in the country, though the ruling will also effectively ban Ukraine’s existing Communist Party, an opposition party that is generally pro-Russian and critical of the new government. The party has no seats in the national parliament, but has 112 seats in regional parliaments.
Communist Party leader Pyotr Simonenko was critical of the move not so much over questions about his own party’s status, but on the grounds it would criminalize the celebration of Soviet troops defeating the Nazis in the nation in WW2, and would bar WW2 veterans from wearing their medals.
Officials in the Ukrainian government had been trying to ban the Communist Party at any rate, though officials say that it will not ban Communist ideology as such.
The Right Sector, a fascist party with neo-Nazi elements within it, does not appear to be affected by the ban.
"…Right Sector, a fascist party with neo-Nazi elements within it, does not appear to be affected by the ban."
Well, imagine that. I guess Poroshenko didn't want to be visited late at nite by a bunch of black-masked "we're not really fascist Nazis" supporters who want to ask him to leave the country.
LOL the author is a Putler's troll: "The Right Sector, a fascist party with neo-Nazi…" has 2 jewish MPs only, as nobody voted for it in elections. Google 😉 However, there are up to 13 far-right MPs out of 450, 2 from Svoboda, and few hiding in Radical party, associated with FSB 🙁
I don't see how such a ban would affect ceremonies commemorating the end of WWII nor do I see how it would affect the handful of survivng veterans wearing their medals. Wars are waged by countries, not political parties, and medals awarded for service or bravery are not symbols of any political party. Incidentally, "celebrate" (Mr Ditz's word, not RT's) doesn't seem to me to be the right word for a war. A war that left 65 million people dead, to say nothing of the civilian victims, is nothing to celebrate, not even the end of it. Solemn and dignified commemorations are appropriate but not celebrations. That Putin & co are geting all worked up about this is a perfect example of the ultra-nationalism that he shares with Hitler. In Ol'Adolf's hands, it cost the 65 million lives I referred to. How may millions will little Vlad kill before he's stopped?