April 13, 2023

Flagpole Ripper


Flagpole Ripper
Russian flag. Dickelbers, Wikimedia Commons.

A man was apprehended near Nizhny Novgorod after he removed the Russian flag from a police building, RIA Novosti reported.

Law enforcement officials of the Pavlovsky district said that, on April 3, an individual allegedly tore down the Russian flag from the police department on Zavyalova Street in Pavlovo. The ASTRA Telegram channel reported that the same individual supposedly threw the flag onto the road and proceeded to stomp on it while also hitting it with a bat. The perpetrator, identified by police, is a 35-year-old Vorsma resident who has a previous criminal record.

The main department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs disclosed that the man was arrested and taken into custody by police. Following a court ruling, the individual in question has been officially detained for violating Article 19.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (disobedience to the lawful order of a police officer). He was sentenced to four days of administrative arrest.

However, the man's actions have prompted supervisory authorities to consider further action under Article 329 (desecration of the state flag of the Russian Federation) which has a maximum penalty of a year in prison. The police have also considered paragraph B of the first part in Article 213 (hooliganism).

This arrest comes as Russians have been politically protesting in more and more creative ways.

You Might Also Like

Patching the Holes
  • July 15, 2022

Patching the Holes

Russian lawmakers have been vigorously adding new laws in response to political and cultural developments and public protests, rather than due to pressure from the public or practical necessity.
Soviet Dissent: Genesis and Heirs
  • March 01, 2016

Soviet Dissent: Genesis and Heirs

Half a century ago, the Soviet dissent movement began when two young writers were put on trial for publishing their works abroad and “slandering the state.” We consider how this relates to modern events.
A Painter's Protest
  • March 08, 2023

A Painter's Protest

A Crimean artist who painted a political message was beaten and forced to publicly apologize to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955