Ukrainian flags may now be displayed around three Soviet memorials in Berlin on May 8th and 9th to commemorate the end of the Second World War 78 years ago. The administrative court in Berlin overturned a corresponding ban yesterday evening according to “Tagesspiegel” information.
The Berlin police tweeted during the night that the court had judged the risk assessment differently and allowed the display of Ukrainian flags and flags as well as Ukrainian marching and military songs at the named locations. “We will not appeal the decision.”
The police had previously issued a ban on Russian and Ukrainian flags around the Soviet memorials in Treptow, Tiergarten and Schönholzer Heide for May 8th and 9th. The two days mark the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.
In order to ensure the “dignified commemoration of the fallen soldiers of the then Soviet Army”, the playing of marching and military songs around the three memorials was also prohibited, the police had announced. It is also forbidden to “make exclamations that, due to the current situation, are suitable for approving, glorifying or glorifying the war in Ukraine”.
“Ban obviously unlawful”
Lawyer Patrick Heinemann submitted an urgent application to the administrative court against the ban on Ukrainian flags and symbols on behalf of the Ukrainian club Vitsche, according to the “Tagesspiegel”. He told the newspaper:
“The administrative court has confirmed our legal opinion: the ban on Ukrainian flags is – in the words of the court – obviously illegal.” Anyone who makes use of their basic right to publicly acknowledge the Ukrainian nation and its historical victims in the defeat of National Socialism is not a threat to public security.
There had already been a flag ban last year. At the time, it caused a lot of criticism from the Ukrainian side, including from the then Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk. According to its own statement, the Senate wanted to prevent the World War II commemoration from being overshadowed by possible conflicts in connection with the current war in Ukraine.
