Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Russians on the National Flag Day on August 22 and called the Russian tricolor a symbol of the country’s unity.
"Russia is a one thousand year old country and civilization. Our national flag is a symbol of our unity," Putin said in a video address.
In his words, the white, blue and red flag that was instituted as the official national flag by Peter the Great was hoisted over the country again on August 22, 1991.
According to Putin, Russia has overcome many hardships and ordeals with this flag flying overhead, but in essence restored its sovereignty. The Russian leader believes that the national flag will always inspire to move forward, to victory, and to assert the glory of Russia.
On August 22, 1991, the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic passed a resolution establishing the historical flag of Russia (a white, azure and scarlet tricolor) as the national flag of the Russian Federation. In 1993, the azure color was replaced with blue and the scarlet color was replaced with red.
National Flag Day was created by a decree of then Russian President Boris Yeltsin in 1994.
