Public desecration of the St. George ribbon now carries penalties including a fine of up to 3 million rubles or a jail term reaching three years. The measure, signed on December 29, formalizes the St. George ribbon as a symbol of Russia’s military pride and the Soviet people’s victory in the Great Patriotic War within the legal framework.
Desecration carried out by a group with prior agreement or coordinated online can lead to fines from 2 to 5 million rubles or imprisonment for up to five years.
The document restricts ribbon use to government authorities in contexts tied to historical memory, such as Victory Day celebrations and patriotic events.
It also allows the St. George ribbon to be displayed on significant national dates or in events designed to honor Russian soldiers who distinguished themselves in wars.
Citizens and organizations who view the ribbon as essential to Russia’s status as a symbol of military glory retain the right to use it.
The law’s adoption was initiated by Olga Zanko, deputy chair of the State Duma Committee on Civil Society Development and Public and Religious Associations, a United Russia member, along with Andrey Turchak, first deputy chair of the Federation Council. Zanko had described the bill as a priority, and the explanatory note outlines scenarios deemed inappropriate for ribbon use that law enforcement should address. She noted that wearing a St. George ribbon is not punishable in itself, as it reflects pride and remembrance. However, public desecration or destruction would trigger legal consequences, she stated at an April meeting.
During the discussion, reference was made to bans in several countries, including Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, and Ukraine. The sense conveyed was that the ribbon is a powerful symbol of unity and must be protected. The parliamentarian underscored that soldiers and defenders in the NVO region have worn the ribbon on uniforms, while residents in liberated areas sometimes remove it from concealment, underscoring its significance to ordinary people.
Senator Turchak described the measure as a response to bans on the ribbon in some former Soviet republics. He cited Georgia and Ukraine as examples, and noted that in Latvia the symbol has been associated with extremist imagery. He suggested similar legislative efforts were advancing in Lithuania and Moldova. He also cited instances in Germany where authorities restricted the display of symbols connected to the ribbon on the eve of May 9 in Berlin. In Lithuania, a municipal incident involved a man wearing the ribbon and a cockade being fined after local complaints, illustrating a broader regional sensitivity to the symbol.
What other laws did Putin pass on the eve of the holiday?
The president also signed laws related to special operations in Ukraine. Until those operations conclude, earnings and expense reports of authorities and other related information will not be published in the media or on official department sites.
Additionally, the decree exempts military personnel and officials deployed to new regions from the obligation to disclose income information while in service in those areas.
For personnel assisting in stabilizing recently liberated territories, there is now enhanced social support for travel beyond Donbass to include the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. The measure targets specialists who helped restore areas affected by hostilities.
If a service member is injured, wounded, or in shock, compensation rises to 3 million rubles. If a business trip results in the death of a specialist, family compensation reaches 5 million rubles.
Sabotage-related offenses carry stiff penalties. Those who involve a person in sabotage or finance such acts face 8 to 15 years in prison plus fines from 300,000 to 700,000 rubles. If an offender leverages an official position, the sentence can reach 10 to 20 years with fines from 500,000 to 1 million rubles. In extreme cases, life imprisonment is possible for organizing or complicity in sabotage, and accounts of those financing such acts will be blocked.
A separate measure reduces the maximum daily interest rate on consumer and micro loans from 1% to 0.8%, preventing debt from ballooning beyond 292% over a year. The cap on total debt and penalties is set at 130% of the original loan until the principal matures. This provision takes effect on July 1, 2023.
Finally, Putin authorized videoconference participation for all interested parties in criminal court proceedings, extending the option beyond previously limited participants.