The ban is in effect at three Soviet military memorials in Treptow Park, Tiergarten, and Schönholzer Heide. The restrictions are introduced in light of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Berlin police on Wednesday, May 6, published an administrative order dated April 22, restricting the freedom of assembly and access to public spaces in the vicinity of three Soviet military memorials from May 8 at 6:00 AM to May 9 at 10:00 PM.
In the restricted areas - in the districts of Treptow-Köpenick, Mitte, and Pankow - military uniforms and insignia, the display of the letters Z and V, St. George ribbons, flags and items with Russian symbols, flags of the USSR, Belarus, the Chechen Republic, and portraits of their leaders, as well as images of "Ukraine excluding occupied territories," are prohibited.
Russian military and marching songs - including all versions of "Sacred War" - and any actions glorifying Russia's war against Ukraine are also banned.
Who the Ban Applies To
The ban applies to all individuals present in the restricted areas, regardless of whether they are participants in demonstrations or not. Exceptions are made for diplomatic delegations and other individuals with privileges.
World War II veterans are exempt from the ban on wearing military uniforms, insignia, and St. George ribbons. Flags and ribbons are also allowed as part of wreaths and floral arrangements laid at the memorials.
Why Restrictions Were Introduced
According to the police, symbols previously considered harmless - St. George ribbons, military uniforms, Soviet flags - have acquired a fundamentally different meaning in the context of the ongoing war. Authorities point out that Russian propaganda directly links the current war to the victory over Nazism in World War II, making it impossible to distinguish between historical commemoration and support for aggression.
The symbol "Z," which appeared on Russian military equipment at the beginning of the invasion, is regarded as an endorsement of the war and may be classified as a criminal offense. The resolution notes particular concern for Ukrainian refugees residing in Berlin, for whom the display of such symbols is distinctly intimidating.
Similar measures have been implemented in Berlin annually since 2022. In 2023, 170 items - fragments of uniforms, jackets, St. George ribbons - were confiscated at the memorial in Treptow Park, and several individuals were detained. In 2023 and 2024, numerous violations of the bans were recorded - the wearing of St. George ribbons and the display of Russian flags. On May 9, 2023, drunken participants on both sides were only separated thanks to the prompt intervention of the police.
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