Disinfo: Ukrainian cafe in former synagogue sells “SS” branded coffee

Summary

A coffee shop based in the former synagogue of Chernivtsi (Western Ukraine) is selling a “SS” branded coffee. This is the outcome of Ukrainian independence.

Disproof

This is a part of a broad disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets claiming that Ukraine turned into a Nazi state after the Revolution of Dignity in 2014.

In reality, Escobar Coffee is not a coffee shop but a company that sells and repairs coffee machines and roasts coffee. It is true that this company is located in the building of a former synagogue in the Western Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi. When they rebranded their coffee and changed the logo into Essco, the designer made the "ss" letters look like two lightning bolts symbolising a surge of energy after a cup of coffee in the morning. These letters looked strikingly similar to a Nazi symbol in another font. The designer did not mean to offend anyone because it was just a mistake. The company later changed the logo again and offered its apologies. This incident has nothing to do with claims by pro-Kremlin outlets that Nazi ideology pervades Ukrainian politics.

Similarly, the logo of the world-famous American rock band Kiss has two “ss” letters that could look like something close to the Nazi rods, but it has nothing to do with Nazism either. What is more, two members of the group are Jewish and the mother of one of them is a Holocaust survivor.

The Verkhovna Rada (parliament) on 9 April 2015, adopted the law “On the condemnation of the Communist and Nazi totalitarian regimes in Ukraine and the prohibition of propaganda of their symbols”. This law bans all manifestations of Nazi and Communist symbols.

Read more disinformation narratives claiming that Ukraine is a Nazi state.

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radiovesti.ru [from 00:01:01 to 00:01:52] [from 00:01:01 to 00:01:52] (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 258
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 24/08/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine
  • Keywords: Nazi/Fascist, Anti-Semitism
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