The political party IL has introduced a resolution to the Assembleia da República expressing concerns over the display of symbols associated with Russia’s war narrative on Portuguese soil.
These symbols include the black and orange St. George’s ribbon, stylized ‘Z’ and ‘V’ letters, and other variations currently used to support the Russian invasion and its underlying ideology.
In 2025, Portugal witnessed multiple incidents of provocation and aggression tied to these symbols, notably in Albufeira, where Ukrainian women were assaulted after criticizing their use during a ‘Immortal Regiment’ march, and in Setúbal, where clashes involving Russian sailors displaying war emblems left 12 people hospitalized.
These incidents have understandably alarmed the Ukrainian community in Portugal, who feel vulnerable to the provocative use of public space for war advocacy.
According to IL, overt display of symbols linked to Russian aggression is often a morally and psychologically hostile act towards those directly affected by the conflict.
Several European nations, including Estonia, Latvia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Moldova, and various German federal states, have taken steps to limit the public presence of such symbols or raise awareness about their current significance.
IL urges the Government to condemn the use of symbols like the St. George’s ribbon and ‘Z’ and ‘V’ letters associated with Russian aggression towards Ukraine as elements of war propaganda or political intimidation.
The party also suggests awareness campaigns to educate the public about the current meaning of these symbols and the risks of their uncritical use in public spaces, considering the suffering of conflict victims.
Finally, IL calls on the Government to strengthen institutional support mechanisms for the Ukrainian community in Portugal, addressing their concerns and ensuring that cases of provocation, intimidation, or hate speech receive attention from the relevant authorities.
