On social networks and pro-Russian websites, propagandists are actively spreading information that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has allegedly recognized the ban on the “St. George ribbon” in Ukraine as a violation of freedom of expression. However, this is a manipulation designed to discredit Ukraine and fuel Russian narratives.

This was written by experts from the StopFake project. They found out that in fact, in the case of Borzykh against Ukraine, the ECHR ruled that the ban on the use of the “St. George ribbon” was justified and did not contradict Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The decision emphasizes that the ribbon acquired a symbolic meaning associated with the aggressor in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The ban was partial, allowing its use in awards until 1991. The claimant, Yurii Borzykh, a former military man, claimed that he wanted to wear the ribbon on May 9. He could not prove that the ban significantly affected his life or caused psychological suffering. The ECHR recognized Ukraine’s actions as falling within the state’s discretion, aimed at protecting national security during the war.

Therefore, the claim that the ECHR recognized the ban on the “St. George ribbon” as a violation of freedom of expression is untrue. This is an attempt by Russian propaganda to create a disinformation effect and discredit Ukraine's measures to counter symbols associated with hostile aggression.