Russia criticizes Ukraine for new laws that ban Communist-era symbols, recognize partisans
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Russian Foreign Ministry has denounced Ukraine for new laws that ban symbols of the former Communist regime and recognize partisans who fought against the Red Army as freedom-fighters.
A ministry statement said Friday that the laws "match the distorted ideas that are being propagated by the incumbent authorities in Ukraine" and that they are a pretext for "introducing totalitarian methods to liquidate unsuitable parties." It contends that recognizing the partisans as freedom-fighters honors "Nazi collaborators."
The laws passed by the Ukrainian parliament on Thursday ban the use of symbols from the Soviet years and also ban Nazi symbols.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Moscow has repeatedly contended that the downfall of Viktor Yanukovych as Ukrainian president in 2014 after months of protests was effectively a coup driven by fascist-minded nationalists.