27 MEPs call on Amazon to stop sales of goods with Soviet symbols

Take note – story published 5 years ago

27 members of the European Parliament have turned to the US online trading giant Amazon, asking for the discontinuation of sales of goods with Soviet symbols.

A letter initiated by Lithuanian MEP Antanas Guoga and addressed to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos was signed by MEPs from Lithuania, Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, Croatia, Latvia, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Estonia, Finland, Portugal, Hungary and Spain, representing all political groups in the European Parliament.

In the letter, the MEPs say they "condemn the use of above-mentioned symbols of totalitarian regimes – Nazi or Soviet", stating that they "systematically abused human rights, suppressed freedom and democracy".

"The total number of victims of the Soviet regime is estimated to more than 60 million. Over 10 million people were sent to working camps in Siberia, where they endured inhumane living conditions, forced labour, starvation and physical violence. The bloody actions, terror and inhumanity of the Soviet regime affected nearly every family in the formerly occupied countries. The tragic consequences of these actions are felt to this day", the letter reads.

It came in response to the #WhyNotSwastika initiative on social media, which calls on Amazon to stop the sale of dozens types of T-shirts with Soviet symbols.

Earlier this, Walmart and Adidas stopped selling their goods with Soviet symbols following criticism from Lithuania and other Baltic states.

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