In the Odesa region of Ukraine, a woman of German origin, who holds Ukrainian citizenship, was prosecuted for the use of prohibited communist symbols. She posted an image of the USSR emblem on Facebook and received a sentence of three years imprisonment, later replaced with a one-year probation.

Case Details

According to the case materials, the incident occurred on April 28, 2021. The accused, a secretary at a lyceum, posted on her Facebook page a photograph featuring a five-pointed star, the USSR emblem, and the caption "We are the heirs of victory." This symbolism is prohibited under Ukrainian law. The investigation classified her actions under Article 436-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

"Acting with criminal intent to disseminate and publicly use the symbols of the communist regime, aware of the illegality of her actions, she used electronic means for publishing in a social network accessible to an unlimited number of people, wishing to promote communist ideology," the verdict states.

Court Proceedings

The case was heard by a court in the city of Yuzhne. The parties reached a plea agreement, which was signed on March 26, 2025. The accused acknowledged her guilt and agreed to the punishment.

The court found the agreement to be lawful, noting the absence of any prior convictions and the sincere remorse expressed by the defendant. It was also considered that the crime did not cause any material damage.

Judgment

The court found the woman guilty and sentenced her to three years of imprisonment without property confiscation but released her from serving the sentence with a probationary period of one year.

The accused was ordered to periodically report to the probation authority and notify them of any changes in residence. The previously imposed property seizure was lifted, and items seized during the search were returned to her.