(AmericanProsperity.com) – Russian forces entering Ukraine displayed the letter “Z” on their tanks and armored vehicles. The symbol has since become a rallying cry for supporters of the Russian operation in Ukraine. In Germany, however, using the symbol to show solidarity with the Kremlin can result in criminal charges.
Individuals who display the letter "Z" in Germany to symbolise support for Russia's war in Ukraine could be liable for prosecution, an interior ministry spokesperson said on Monday. https://t.co/4SvxTKXoug
— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) March 28, 2022
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Berlin, Bavaria, and Lower Saxony are all on board with punishing those expressing allegiance for what the German Interior Ministry calls a criminal war. A spokesman told Reuters that while the letter itself isn’t banned, context matters. Letter displays that could constitute support for Russian aggression might land someone in jail. The ministry noted that federal authorities would monitor the situation.
When the symbol first appeared, some observers assumed it was a way for Russian units to identify each other. As time passed, the symbol became more prevalent and landed its own place in Russian pop culture. Buildings in Moscow light up with the symbol, which means “unity.” They also display the better-known “V” for “victory.”
The move by German officials may seem well intentioned, but it also could bring worries about the loss of personal freedoms. Germany certainly has a history with symbols, and their pre-emptive strike on the Russian “Z” might seem appropriate, but would that kind of law work in a truly free society, or does it go too far?
The distinction is apparently unimportant to German officials, who believe the letter symbolizes war crimes and remain adamant about snuffing it out.
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