diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/embargo/models.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/embargo/models.py
index a920a1817a..3cbd93b255 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/embargo/models.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/embargo/models.py
@@ -375,6 +375,7 @@ class RestrictedCourse(models.Model):
         log.info("Invalidated cached messaging URLs ")
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class Country(models.Model):
     """Representation of a country.
 
@@ -389,7 +390,7 @@ class Country(models.Model):
         help_text=ugettext_lazy(u"Two character ISO country code.")
     )
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
+    def __str__(self):
         return u"{name} ({code})".format(
             name=six.text_type(self.country.name),
             code=six.text_type(self.country)
@@ -400,6 +401,7 @@ class Country(models.Model):
         ordering = ['country']
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class CountryAccessRule(models.Model):
     """Course access rule based on the user's country.
 
@@ -522,7 +524,7 @@ class CountryAccessRule(models.Model):
         # that have access to the course.
         return list(whitelist_countries - blacklist_countries)
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
+    def __str__(self):
         if self.rule_type == self.WHITELIST_RULE:
             return _(u"Whitelist {country} for {course}").format(
                 course=six.text_type(self.restricted_course.course_key),