Romania proposes comprehensive ban on communist symbols, propaganda

Romania’s coalition party USR has introduced a bill in parliament that seeks to outlaw the activities of communist organizations, prohibit the display of communist symbols, and impose criminal penalties for promoting communism.

The proposed legislation broadens existing laws on fascist propaganda to include crimes committed under the communist regime, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Individuals found guilty of promoting communism could face up to three years in prison, while those involved in creating or participating in communist organizations could face sentences of up to ten years.

Key provisions of the bill include a ban on erecting monuments, memorial plaques, or other commemorative markers honoring communist figures, as well as prohibiting the naming of streets, squares, parks, or organizations after them. Exceptions would apply only to museums and officially recognized memorial sites.

The authors of the bill stressed the broader societal stakes, stating, “Nostalgia for communism is not harmless melancholy, but fertile ground for extremist movements promising ‘order’ at the cost of our rights. We cannot build a prosperous future on a falsified history.”

By Vafa Guliyeva