Red is dead: Russian anti-war protesters fly a new flag for peace

The flag has since been embraced on social media as well as by Russian anti-war protesters on the streets.

This flag, first used during the short-lived Belarusian national republic in 1918, became such an irritant to the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko that even people wearing socks in its colours have faced prosecution.

As Putin is effectively criminalising dissent over the war, tens of thousands of Russians have departed, and the main hubs of organised opposition movements are now abroad. Like-minded Russians have since been gathering at protests and anti-war concerts in cities across Europe, including Istanbul, London, Riga and Warsaw.