Russia bans using Che Guevara images in poll campaigns

Despite the argument that the Cuban revolutionary has become a universal symbol of the struggle for justice, the Apex Court of the country has prohibited the usage of his image for any elections

Moscow: The Russian Supreme Court has banned the use of the image of Cuban revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara in any election campaigns on Tuesday.

A Russian Communist Party activist holds up a portrait of Che Guevara during their traditional May Day rally on
May 1, 2015 in Moscow. File Pic/AFP

The ban was issued after a lawsuit against the Communists of Russia party for using Che’s image in its campaign for regional elections held in 2014.

Despite the argument of political parties that the image of Che has become a universal symbol of the struggle for justice, the high court said in its order that the enforcement of copyright on the image and work of the revolutionary has not expired.

Communists of Russia described the Supreme Court decision as disproportionate and recalled that so far in similar cases the courts were limited to requisition of the prohibited electoral agitation materials.

The Communist Party of Russia has also reported that since the enforcement of the law on protection of intellectual property, there has not been a single election where that legislation was not used to get rid of communists.

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