It has become the symbol of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine: the “Z”. It means “Za Pobedu” – “For Victory” – and is no longer only on Russian tanks and uniforms, but also on the buildings, cars or clothes of supporters of the war as a sign of support. In Germany, preliminary proceedings have now been launched against allegedly more than 140 of them.
This was reported Monday by the editorial network Germany, citing its own investigation of ministries and state detective agencies. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, 19 violations of Section 140 of the German Penal Code, which criminalizes rewarding and condoning crimes, have been found in Saxony alone. It was said that 17 of these cases involved the use of the Z symbol.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, the report became known after 37 investigations, “22 of which included the ‘Z symbol’ as a sign of solidarity with the Russian military commanders,” the editorial network quoted a ministry spokeswoman as saying. In Hamburg, 16 of the 17 cases involved the “Z”.
High number of unreported cases
However, the actual number of recorded war-related sentences is likely to be “slightly higher” as the associated investigative procedures are not recorded separately in all states, such as in Bavaria. However, the Justice Minister there, Georg Eisenreich, emphasized to the editorial network that he would take consistent action against people who condoned the Russian war of aggression.
Freedom of expression ends with criminal law
Freedom of expression is a high value of our constitution. In Germany everyone is allowed to express their opinion. But freedom of speech ends where criminal law begins,” Eisenreich said. “We do not accept international crimes to be tolerated.”
Procedure against Austrian truck drivers
In early April, an Austrian truck driver caught the attention of security detectives at a highway service area near Illertissen in Bavaria for pasting the Z symbol and “Fuck Nato” on his vehicle. A criminal prosecution has been instituted against him for condoning criminal offences.
Since the 47-year-old had no permanent residence in Germany, the prosecutor ordered him to deposit a deposit of 2,500 euros and remove the “Z” before continuing his journey.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
