Officers in reserve and young persons suggest distributing St George Ribbon together with tricolor

A number of officers in reserve and young people propose sharing the Saint George Ribbon, which is a symbol of the victory over fascism, together with the tricolor from next year. In a news conference held at Info-Prim Neo on May 7, the authors of the initiative said the action will represent a gesture of solidarity between different ethnic groups. The practice of distributing the St George Ribbon before May 9 provokes disputes in the society. Student Eugen Muravschii said one of the reasons is the fact that this is also a symbol of the Russian imperialism. The black and orange ribbon accompanied military decorations for bravery awarded during Catherine II's reign, when the Russian army occupied the Romanian territories. “So, this ribbon is also a symbol of the Russian imperialism and its colors symbolize the fire and gun powder. What do we need such a warlike symbol for? This ribbon has a too bloody history and cannot be named a symbol,” Eugen Muravschii said. “The Saint George Ribbon must be promoted in Russia, not in Moldova. We must promote the tricolor,” said colonel in reserve Anatol Prohnitski. Another veteran of the Ministry of the Interior, the chairman of Tiras-Tighina Association Anatol Caraman said the symbols of other ethnic groups must be respected. “We will continue to promote our symbols, but will not touch the values of other peoples. They should not touch our symbols as well,” Anatol Caraman said. Student Dorin Malic considers that the tensions can be avoided if a compromise is reached with the organizations that distribute the St George Ribbon so that it is shared together with a blue-yellow-red ribbon. “The tricolor is Moldova's true symbol,” the student said. Veaceslav Burlac, a member of the Movement “Democratia Acasa” (“Democracy at Home”), said he and his colleagues distributed tricolor ribbons in the Great National Assembly Square. “We expressed solidarity with the League of the Russian Youth. Next year, we want to share tricolor ribbons together with the Saint George Ribbon,” said Veaceslav Burlac. Several days ago, the League of Russian Youth in Moldova stretched a St George Ribbon of 350 meters in the Great National Assembly Square. The Movement “Democratia Acasa” came with the tricolor.