ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

This was a brief report on a nation preparing for war and the fact that civilians were readying themselves by training in weaponry. In the ECU’s view the extent to which viewers would look to it for details of the ideologies associated with the symbols worn by some of those seen in the footage, or the presence of extremist elements in Ukraine’s forces more generally, was accordingly limited.

It also noted that while the roots of the Azov Battalion, which featured in the report, are certainly in far-right extremism, its current leadership has disavowed any connection with the political position of its founder, and President Zelensky has said those with political aims are no longer part of the group, which is now part of the armed forces of the nation. Β The existence of imagery or insignia, such as that cited by the complainant, did not therefore amount to evidence that as currently constituted the group are Nazis.

The complainant also suggested the use of Nazi symbols was significant in light of Russia’s claims to be β€œd±π²Τ²Ή³ϊΎ±΄Ϊ²βΎ±²Τ²΅β€ the country. Β However the ECU did not agree that Russian propaganda aimed at justifying the invasion meant the significance of such insignia must be explored on every occasion, and noted the issue had been covered in some detail elsewhere on the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ.
Not Upheld

ΜύΜύ