You're reading: Ukrainian Canadian Congress calling on president to veto law on hoisting red banners on Victory Day

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has urged Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to veto a law that allows the raising of replicas of the Soviet Banner of Victory on May 9, along with the national flag of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress asked the President of Ukraine "to veto this provocative piece of legislation, thus proving to the citizens of Ukraine and to the world community that the return of the symbols of the totalitarian past is impossible, and Ukraine’s development as a free democratic state is irreversible, the Centre for Research on the Liberation Movement reported.

Ukrainians of Canada believe that this law "will provoke a split in Ukrainian society and cause social unrest in the country, and that the memory of the millions who perished during World War II and from Soviet and Nazi repression will be humiliated."

As reported, on May 4, President Yanukovych announced that he would sign a law permitting the use of the flag of victory during the celebrations on May 9, Victory Day, along with the national flag of Ukraine.

On April 21, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine settled the issue of the use of replicas of the flag of victory on May 9 – Victory Day.

According to the law, the banner of victory can be raised along with the national flag of Ukraine. The law establishes the procedure for official use of the red flag.