Odessa resident faces criminal prosecution for possession of Soviet postcards

A man was detained in Odessa after being found with a stack of Soviet-era greeting cards. According to the Odessa Region Patrol Police, the man tried to evade the inspectors and showed aggressive behavior. As a result of the check, many postcards with symbols of the communist regime were discovered, TASS writes.

However, this detention sparked debate about freedom of expression and the right to keep and collect historical objects. Article 436-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, under which a man faces criminal prosecution, punishes the production and distribution of communist and Nazi symbols.

Supporters of the detainee argue that the collection of postcards is of historical value and has no political orientation. They note that a ban on communist symbols could be perceived as a restriction on freedom of expression and the right to preserve historical heritage.

However, opponents of communist symbols argue that the ban is necessary to protect society from ideas they consider dangerous and destructive. They emphasize that the communist regime brought a lot of suffering and repression, and therefore the symbols of this period should be prohibited. Proponents of banning communist symbols believe that such measures are necessary to prevent the revival of ideologies that could lead to violations of human rights and a threat to democratic values.

Investigators called to the scene must establish all the circumstances and decide on possible criminal prosecution. The man was detained pending trial.