Last modified: 2009-09-12 by antónio martins
Keywords: kaliningrad | prussia | koenigsberg | königsberg | kënigsberg | compass rose | baltic republican party | brp |
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Ever since 1994 there’s no substantive difference between republics,
territories and regions of the Russian Federation, they have all similar
rights and powers. (And the current trend reducing those rights menaces
all those at the same rate.) The issue of upgrading the status of Kaliningrad
Region to a Republic is thus moot since 1994, after the
self rule rights (and budget) of regions and
territories were raised to meet those of the autonomous republics.
So, I cannot see the inherent advantage of switching from region to
republic status in nowadays Russia.
António Martins, 30 Apr 2001 and 28 Aug 2002
As the inhabitants of the Kaliningrad Oblast’ are searching for their
new identity, there comes the Baltic Republican Party with the idea of
upgrading the status of the enclave to that of the autonomous republic within
Russian Federation. This idea is gradually gaining popular support among
Kaliningraders along with the motion to return the name of Koenigsberg
[Kënigsberg |
Кёнигсберг]
to the capital city of the wished for republic. Among supporters are
influential personalities like former chairman of the Federal Council,
Shumeiko and former governor of the Kaliningrad Oblast’, Gorbenko. The
leader of the Baltic Republican Party, Sergiey Pasko, argues eloquently that
the change of the status is being made more urgent with the European Union
rapidly encroaching on the borders of the enclave and the upgrading would
further work for the benefits of the area and also for the Russian Federation
as a whole. Baltic Republican Party proposes a new flag for the would be
Republic (Baltic Republic / Republic of Baltia), which is a
Russian tricolor charged with the golden compass rose.
The golden compass is also an emblem of the party with superimposed letters
«BRP» («БРП»).
Chrystian Kretowicz, 23 Aug 2002,
based partly on:
John Daniszewski: “The Past, and the West, Beckons to Kaliningrad”
Los Angeles Times (2002.08.23)
According to James Minahan’s Nations Without States
[mnh96], the green-white-blue flag is not
an official one, but is rather the flag of the Koenigsberger separatists,
who seek greater autonomy for the region and to raise its status to a
republic.
Edward Smith, 24 Apr 2001
It was reported on pp. 198-200 of The Flag Bulletin 148
[smi92o], Sept/Oct 1992, e.g.
«Kalingrad Region, capitol »(sic!)« Kalingrad (formerly
Konigsberg) »(…)« it is now an enclave bordered by
Lithuania, Poland and the Baltic Sea». The article gives a very
carefully qualified observation: «It is reported that a local flag
is in use, consisting of green-white-blue horizontal stripes in a 1:2 ratio.
The official standing of the flag is unknown.» Unfortunately, it does
not cite a source for the reported use.
Edward Smith, 24 Mar 2000
The book One Europe - 100 Nations
[rpd92] suggests
that the East Prussia
flag is a black over white horizontal bi-colour.
Stuart Notholt, 28 May 1995
Anything below this line was not added by the editor of this page.