MOSCOW. Aug 22 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Russian citizens on State Flag Day in a video address published on the Kremlin website.
"Our national flag is a symbol of our unity. I believe that the national flag will always inspire us to move forward, to victory, and to assert the glory of Russia," Putin said.
Russia's thousand-year history has seen different state banners - flags with the image of Christ, the black, yellow and white flag of the Russian Empire, the Soviet red flag, the president said.
"But we certainly have special feelings for the white, blue and red flag - it is our official national flag, which was instituted as such by Peter the Great," he said.
"The tricolor was hoisted over our country again on August 22, 1991. We have overcome many hardships and ordeals with this flag flying overhead, but in essence we have restored the sovereignty of our country," Putin said.