Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance (UINR) has asked subsidiary Adidas Ukraine not to sell products with symbols of the communist totalitarian regime in Ukraine’s territory and reminded that Soviet propaganda is banned in Ukraine under the law on condemning the communist and national-socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes.
A copy of the respective letter signed by UINR Director Volodymyr Viatrovych was posted on the institute’s website. This is a reaction to reports about the availability of Adidas sportswear with the image of the Soviet state arms and the inscription ‘USSR,’ which stands for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, on the eve of the World Cup.
“We’ve asking to take measures to prevent the distribution by the Adidas Ukraine subsidiary, other official representatives (…) of the product (products ) – sportswear tank dresses carrying an image of the state arms of the Soviet Union and the inscription ‘USSR,’ or any other goods (products) of Adidas with communist symbols in Ukrainian territory, including sale through retail networks, other traders, online shops, etc.,” the letter addressing to Adidas Ukraine says.
If facts of the distribution (sale) of such goods (products) of Adidas are revealed in Ukraine, UINR says it will report to law enforcement agencies for making the perpetrators liable under laws in effect.
Ukraine enacted a law to condemn the communist and national-socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes and prohibit of propaganda of their symbols. According to the law, “the production, distribution, and public use of the symbols of the communist totalitarian regime, including souvenirs, singing or playing the anthems of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian or other Soviet republics or their fragments, the use of symbols of the national-socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regime” are banned in Ukraine.
The German company Adidas has recently released sportswear pending the World Cup 2018 in Russia, having used the image of the state arms of the Soviet Union and the inscription ‘USSR.’
Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed indignation at that fact.
