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Crimea

The official flag
Pro-Russian movement
Tatar movement

The official flag

by Zeljko Heimer 05-JUN-1996

The televised opening of the Crimean Parliament showed a white flag, with a blue band at the top and a red at the bottom (proportions 1:5:1).
Jaume Oll�

Pro Russian movement

Ownership of the Crimea peninsular has changed repeatedly over the centuries. In 1954, ownership was transferred to Ukraine, although Russians were in a majority. With Ukrainian independence, this became a point of contention; one considerably complicated by the fact that Crimea's ports are the bases for the important Black Sea fleet. Russians agitating for union with Russia fly a variety of flags, including a white flag with a light blue stripe at the top and a red one at the bottom.
Stuart Notholt

Tatar movement

by Zeljko Heimer, 05-JUN-1996

In 1944, Crimea's Tartar population was deported for 'disloyalty' during WW2. Although this decision was later revoked, it was not until 1989 that the Tartars were legally allowed to return to Crimea, where they now constitute around 8 per cent of the population. Tartar nationalists fly a light blue flag with a yellow _tarak_ in the upper hoist. (The _tarak_ is an ancient symbol originally used as a cattle brand.)
Stuart Notholt