The Latvian parliament Thursday voted to ban symbols of military aggression and war crimes from public display, including the letters “Z” and “V” and the Ribbon of Saint George, which are seen as symbols of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

While the existing Law on the Safety of Public Entertainment and Festivity Events (the Law) already imposes a ban on the use of symbols associated with Nazism, fascism or communism, including flags, clothing symbols of the former Soviet or Nazi regimes, the recent amendments expand this ban to symbols “used in a style glorifying military aggression.” The Latvian Cabinet is now required to establish regulations on the list of such symbols.

Additionally, the Law prohibits events celebrating birthdays of people associated with Nazi or communist regimes, battles and occupations of free and independent territories. It allows municipal authorities to deny permission to public events to be conducted within 200 meters of any monument commemorating Soviet military victories. Violations of this law will also attract a greater fine. However, the Law carves out an exception for the usage of symbols or events that do not aim to glorify such regimes or aggressions but instead have educational or artistic purposes, such as exhibitions.

According to Artuss Kaimiņš, the chairperson of the parliamentary committee responsible for advancing the bill, the amendments seek to “send a strong signal” condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine. The letters “Z” and “V,” which Kaimiņš specially mentioned in his statement, have frequently appeared on Russian military vehicles, on clothing and in social media posts supporting Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine. Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak donned athletic wear with a “Z” on the chest at the World Cup in Doha, Qatar early last month. Around the same time, the Russian defence ministry explained the “Z” stands for victory, truth or “denazification,” while “V” means the phrases “truth is strength” or “the task will be completed.”

Around 25 percent of Latvia’s population is ethnically Russian. President Eglis Levits and his government maintain that Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, which is contemplating a similar law, were forcefully annexed by the Soviet Union during World War II.