The Constitutional Court announced on August 8 that it has requested an opinion from the Venice Commission on sanctioning the public display of the black-orange ribbon, months after the wearing of the black-orange ribbon and the “V” and “Z” symbols, representing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, was banned on the territory of Moldova.

According to Article 13 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of the Venice Commission, members of the Commission may not vote on opinions concerning the state that appointed them or whose citizens they are. Thus, the President of the CC, Domnica Manole, who is a member of the Venice Commission, will not be able to vote on the requested opinion.

“On 4 August 2022, the Constitutional Court requested the Venice Commission to issue an opinion on certain provisions of Article 1 of the Law on Counteracting Extremist Activity and Article 3655 of the Contraventions Code, which punishes: ‘the making, sale, dissemination, possession for dissemination and use in public of generally known attributes and symbols that are used in the context of actions of military aggression, war crimes or crimes against humanity, as well as the propaganda or glorification of such actions’,” the CC announced.

Earlier in May 2022, ZdG wrote that several MPs of the Communist and Socialist Bloc ignored the legal provisions and wore the black-orange bicolour ribbon at demonstrations organised on 9 May in the centre of the capital. Other officials and church leaders were among those wearing the banned ribbon. Among those who wore the banned ribbon was the former chairwoman of parliament, the chairwoman of the parliamentary faction of the Bloc of Communists and Socialists (BCS), Zinaida Greceanii. Another BCS MP, Fiodor Gagauz, was also pictured wearing the black and orange ribbon. Former Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, now a member of parliament, also wore the black-orange ribbon.

Among the law-breakers is MP Vladimir Odnostalco, who previously launched several falsehoods and hate messages against Ukrainian refugees in an interview with Russian propagandist Vladimir Soloviov. Bogdan Tirdea MP also pinned the bicolour ribbon to his chest. “That’s not law, but it’s outrageous,” he said of the ban. BCS MP Constantin Starîș also wore the bicolour ribbon.

MP Vlad Bătrîncea wore the banned black-orange ribbon, as did his faction colleague Oleg Reidman. Alongside former socialist leader Igor Dodon, also wearing the banned ribbon, marched BCS MPs Petru Burduja and Eduard Smirnov, the oldest member of the current Parliament. BCS MPs Diana Caraman, Nicolai Rusol, Ala Pilipețcaia and Tatiana Cunețchi also wore the banned ribbon.

Since 20 April, the wearing of the black-orange ribbon and the “V” and “Z” symbols, which represent Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, has been banned in Moldova. Fines ranging from 4 500 to 9 000 lei or unpaid community work from 30 to 60 hours were imposed. Persons in positions of responsibility risk fines of 9,000 to 18,000 lei, and legal entities – 18,000 to 30,000 lei.