Vladimir Putin signed St. George Ribbon status law

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the law on the status of the St. George Ribbon. The document equates the ribbon of St. George to the symbols of military glory, which can be used during patriotic, military-patriotic education events dedicated to Victory Day, the events of the Great Patriotic War, and the memory of military personnel.

Public desecration of the St. George ribbon entails administrative or criminal liability. For this, a citizen can be punished with a fine of up to 3 million rubles or imprisonment for up to 3 years. A legal entity faces a penalty of 3 to 5 million rubles.

Defilement committed by a group of people by prior agreement or on the Internet is punishable by a fine of 2 to 5 million rubles or imprisonment for up to 5 years.

The draft law on the St. George ribbon was submitted to the State Duma in April, adopted in the first reading in September, and on December 29, it was signed by the President of the Russian Federation.