Odessa judge refused to prosecute a man for the WWII order on the flag
In the Malinovsky District Court of Odessa, Judge Dmitry Perederko recused himself from determining a preventive measure for an Odessa resident who, on May 9, drove around the city in a car with a flag on which the Order of the Patriotic War was depicted.
This was revealed in the court decision register. The decision was published on May 12, 2017.
As stated in the text of the decision, the defendant in criminal proceedings on the eve of the national holiday - Victory Day - displayed a flag with the image of the Order of the Patriotic War.
Further, the document contains an explanation why the judge cannot consider the demonstration of the flag with the Order of the Patriotic War on the day of the state holiday on May 9 as propaganda of the totalitarian regime.
“I, PERSON_3, am the grandson of PERSON_4, who heroically died during the Great Patriotic War, and the grandson of a holder of two Orders of the Patriotic War, a disabled person of the 1st group of the Great Patriotic War, PERSON_5. Due to these circumstances, as well as in connection with my upbringing in the spirit of respect for the soldiers who, with their heroic deeds and courage, defended in difficult battles the right of the people of Ukraine to life and in the spirit of respect for the heroism of our people during the Great Patriotic (World War II) War , his unbending steadfastness in the fight against Nazism, I cannot regard the fact of displaying the image of the Order of the Patriotic War on the days of the celebration of the national and state holiday “Victory Day” as propaganda of the totalitarian regime, therefore I consider it impossible for personal and moral and ethical reasons to consider this petitions,” the court decision says.
An Odessa judge refused to prosecute a man for wearing a WWII medal on his flag.