By signing the text of the law which prohibits, since April 21, the ribbon of Saint George in the Republic of Moldova, the President, Maia Sandu, estimated that “Such symbols were to be thrown into the dustbin of history”. In doing so, she caused the indignation of some of his fellow citizens and of Moscow”reports the Russian daily Independent newspaper.
This black badge with orange stripes was first an imperial badge, then a Soviet one. It symbolizes the victory of the Red Army over Nazism during World War II. It is worn by millions of Russians each year on May 9 (a holiday celebrated on May 8 in Western Europe) and evokes Russian military valor and patriotism. Since 2014, it has also marked support for pro-Russian separatists in Donbass.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reacted immediately: “This is inadmissible, it is an offense to the memory of heroes… And it is not up to individual political figures to erase their exploits”a-t-elle com