(KPL/Prensa Latina) Russia celebrates today the National Flag Day, a holiday established by decree of President Boris Yeltsin on 20 August 1994.  

At that time it was decided that the commemorative date would be August 22, because on that day of 1991 the historic Russian tricolor was restored and set in the Government Palace of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (RSFSR), reported the digital newspaper Vzgliad.

The tricolor flag was first hoisted on the Russian ship “Eagle” in 1668, under the command of tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.

In 1693, the white, blue and red flag became the personal banner of the tsar, Peter I.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the flag was used not only on merchant ships, but also to mark Russian territories, even by settlers in America.

In 1858, Emperor Alexander II approved the colors black, yellow and white on banners and flags for state decorations, and since 1865 these colors have become the official colors of the state

In 1896, a meeting at the Ministry of Justice, convened by Emperor Nicholas II, finally decided to recognize the white, blue and red flag as the flag of the empire.

After 1918, Soviet Russia abandoned the tricolor flag and replaced it with a red flag.

The tricolor returned in August 1991, when it was officially recognized as a national flag by the Supreme Council of the RSFSR.

The banner received a new legislative design in 1993 and 2000, when current colours and proportions were approved.

KPL