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Commonwealth of Independent States

by Željko Heimer, 13 Dec 2003

Meaning of the flag
Law quote

Member states:

See also:

Meaning and history of the flag

Already in the beginning of 1994, during a meeting of the CIS-states, a contest was announced to come for a flag and emblem for Community [Commonwealth — M.S.] of Independent States. Winner became the artist Alexander Wasiljewitsch Grigorjew from St. Petersburg. His proposal was brought into the meeting by the Secretary-General I. Korotttschen and on April 15, 1994 the council took over the designs with the words that it had to be discussed before comming official. However, although not official yet, the flag and emblem is already in use.

The flag and emblem are having a sky-blue background. The yellow (golden) circle in the centre (the grain, heart and the sun) symbolising the idea of Light, Warmth and Life. Around it a white symbol like an arcade, standing for cooperation, collective house, growing mighty trees, a cup holding Light and the warmth of the sun for humanity and giving it.

Meaning of the colours:

Sky-blue = peaceful sky, and spiritual sphere.
White = purity, prosperisty and
yellow (gold) for the light, warmth, life and eternal dignity.

Mark Sensen, 30 Nov 1995, quoting Jiri Tenora (in VDCN’s "Info Bulletin" 88 [inf])

Please note that Jiri Tenora gives "sky-blue", while the law text clearly states "dark blue" (although it should not be as dark as that since here "dark blue" stands for Russian "синий", which is normal, wide shade range "blue", while "sky-blue" is Russian "голубой").
António Martins, 06 Nov 1999

Law quote

I came across a UN document containing information on the flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the use of that flag. The flag is described in Decision on the Statute on the Flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States which was «done at Moscow on 19 January 1996 in one original in the Russian language».

Article one deals with the design and symbolism of the CIS flag:

Statute on the Flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States
The flag of the Commonwealth of Independent States (h