Support The Moscow Times!

No Flag Flying Over Moscow’s Libyan Embassy

The iconic green flag of the Moammar Gadhafi regime has been lowered from the Libyan Embassy in Moscow in a signal that diplomats from the conflict-torn North African nation are weighing their alliances.

The flag came down Wednesday but has not yet been replaced by the flag of the opposition National Transitional Council, Itar-Tass reported.

The Libyan embassies in Kiev and Minsk traded the green flag for the insurgency's red-black-green alternative earlier this week after Tripoli was overrun by rebels.

The rebel flag is also flying from embassies in many other countries, including Syria, Algeria, Turkey, Bosnia and the Philippines, according to news reports.

Noting that Gadhafi still holds some power and military strength, President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday urged the embattled leader and the rebels to cease fighting and hold talks.

Gadhafi, who has not replied to the call, was on the run Thursday, with rebels offering a $1.7 million bounty for his capture or killing.

The green flag, adopted by Gadhafi in 1977, is the world's only national flag with a solid color and no details.

The rebel flag, identical to the flag of the Kingdom of Libya, which Gadhafi overthrew in 1969, consists of a horizontal red, black and green triband decorated with a white crescent and star.

It was unclear when the flag might make an appearance over the Moscow embassy.

"When we will be raising a new flag is currently unknown," a Libyan diplomat told Interfax.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more