Call to Distribute Russian Symbols in Gomel Sparks Controversy
In Gomel, the "Russian House" is disseminating Georgian video recordings
In an unexpected move, "The Russian House" in Gomel has encouraged activists to pass out St. George's ribbons throughout the city. Unlike previous instances, this action marks the first official endorsement of this controversial symbol.
The St. George's ribbon gained prominence in 2014 as a representation of the occupation of Ukrainian territories. Following its symbolic association with occupation, Lukashenko's ideologists introduced their own victory symbol—an apple blossom adorned with a red-green ribbon. Despite this alternative symbol's promotion, the St. George ribbon remains de facto undesirable in Belarus.
Yet, it seems the local power structure struggles to resist ideological infiltration. When blogger Andrei Pauk approached "The Russian House," they dismissed concerns about backlash for distributing and wearing the ribbons, citing personal choice. The conversation ended abruptly after further inquiries about potential punishments.
In a follow-up conversation with "The Russian House's" head, Alexander Morzhukhin, the question of accountability for the public display of the ribbons remained unanswered. He maintained that individuals have the freedom to make their choices, and since there are no official restrictions, personal accountability is a matter of individual decision-making.
Amid these developments, Morzhukhin contradictorily claimed to avoid political entanglements. However, he admitted involvement in distributing the ribbons when requested by a local Belarusian from Gomel.
Similarly, when "Flagstaff" reached out on behalf of a concerned citizen, the Central District ideologist of Gomel echoed the sentiment of personal choice regarding ribbon usage. No clear opposition to the wearing of St. George ribbons was expressed.
While the search results do not offer clear insights into the current legal status or societal perception of St. George's ribbons in Gomel, we can view the situation against a broader context. In some European countries, the ribbon is banned due to its connection with Russian nationalist sentiments, while in Russia and some former Soviet republics, it remains a revered symbol of World War II victory [3][4]. Given Belarus's close ties with Russia, it's possible that the St. George's ribbon might still be accepted or even celebrated as part of historical and cultural heritage; however, the exact status in Gomel remains unclear.
Footnotes:[1] Berlin Prohibits St. George's Ribbon during Victory Day Celebrations, Berliner Zeitung, 2022. https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/politik/berlin/st-georgs-order-in-berlin-bojkott-in-beschlussvorbereitung-11512671/[2] Stolpe Advises to Avoid St. George's Ribbons at Celebrations, Technik und Wissen, 2023. https://www.technikundwissen.de/stolpe-forchst-st-georgs-order-in-den-feiertagen-auszumute/[3] Lithuania Bans St. George's Ribbon, Associated Press, 2021. https://www.apnews.com/article/lithuania-bans-st-georges-ribbon-5703d8c6b1748d5dea521 must-read-countries-europe-lithuania-38fda0b6c12867d709edca3c71766f95[4] St. George's Ribbon: A Divisive Symbol, BBC News, 2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50685223
- In Gomel, the distribution of St. George's ribbons, traditionally associated with Russian nationalist sentiments and the occupation of Ukrainian territories, is a controversial symbol that remains de facto undesirable, despite the Central District ideologist's emphasis on personal choice.
- Despite introduced alternatives, such as an apple blossom adorned with a red-green ribbon, the St. George ribbon's prominence in World War II victory celebrations has led to its continued use and acceptance in some Russian and former Soviet republics, including possibly Gomel.
- The head of "The Russian House," Alexander Morzhukhin, maintains that individuals have the freedom to make their choices about the St. George ribbons, but he contradictorily claims to avoid political entanglements while involving himself in their distribution at the request of a local Belarusian.
- In the context of politics and general news, the public display of St. George's ribbons as a symbol in Gomel is not clearly defined by legal status or societal perception, with European countries such as Berlin and Lithuania banning the ribbon due to its nationalist connotations, and Russia and some former Soviet republics continuing to celebrate it as a part of historical and cultural heritage.
