Stavropol city (Stavropol kray, Russia)

Ставрополь

Last modified: 2011-10-01 by andrew weeks
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Stavropol City, capital of Stavropol Territory , in Russia, had its flag adopted by decision No.1173 of the Head of Administration of Stavropol city in 1993.08.03, which was confirmed by resolution No.124 of the municipal parliament (_duma_) in 1994.12.21 -- being of of the earliest *city* flags in modern Russia.

It is a 1:2 white flag with a very wide yellow cross on it -- apparent specs in the image appended to the law are (1+1+1):(2+1+4), though this is not in the law *text*.

The center of the cross (a square with 1/3 of the hoist to the side) is white and filled with a light orange stylized depiction of the local fortress: squat tower with five "cogs" on its top, one central doorway, open, and two slit windows on each side, all ending in round arches. Filling the upper hoist area, a 1:2 representation of the Russian federal flag (which was indeed 1:2 in 1991-1993, see ru_1991.html). Both the cross and the fortress are said in the law text to be golden (_золотой_), but the image appended to the law shows two very distinctly different shades.

The basic design is not unlike to flag of the territory itself, which was adopted on 1997.05.15 and thus may have been influenced by the city flag. Its meaning, according to the law text come from the Greek root for the city name (_σταυρός + πόλη_ = cross + city), golden (ripe grain fields) standing for wealth and fertility, white for peace; the fortress is taken from the historical coat of arms and symbolizes the link with the past, and the russian flag indicates that the city is part of Russia.

This later detail may be amiss with recent legislation which has already forced changes in the flag of Khakassia, among others (?), see ru-.html#prohib

António Martins-Tuválkin, 10 May 2006.