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Germany tackles the use of the letter ‘Z’

This sign, engraved on the vehicles and uniforms of the Russian invasion forces, has become a rallying sign for the pro-Kremlin.

Two major German regions, Bavaria and Lower Saxony, have said they want to prosecute anyone who uses the letter publicly.zsymbol of support for the war of Vladimir Putin’s Russia against Ukraine. People who “publicly endorse Russian President Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine by means of this symbol »Z« may expect criminal consequencesThis was said in a statement by the Interior Minister Boris Pistorius of Lower Saxony.

Those Kremlin sympathizers with a “z” in public “should know that they can be prosecuted for condoning crimes“Bavaria Federal Justice Minister Georg Eisenreich warned in a message to AFP. Bavaria (south) and Lower Saxony (north) are the country’s two largest regional states by area.

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Freedom of speech ends where criminal law begins

Since the beginning of the war against Ukraine, a “zwhite appeared on the tanks and uniforms of the invading Russian troops. This sign has since been refused in public places, in Russia but also outside the country and the war zone.”on buildings, cars or clothing”, explains the ministry in Lower Saxony.

That this is also the case in this region of Germany, for example during demonstrations, is “absolutely incomprehensibleand aimscondone these crimesadded Boris Pistorius. †Everyone is allowed to express their opinion in Germany“corn”freedom of speech ends where criminal law beginsreiterated the Bavarian minister, whose services gave instructions to Bavaria’s prosecutors. The German Criminal Code punishes with sentences of up to three years in prison and a fine anyone who demonstrates public approval of wars of aggression that can disrupt public order.

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