Propastop has taken on the task of cleansing Estonian public spaces from Russian state flags. We focus particularly on language selection menus, where the choice of Russian is illustrated with the aggressor country’s flag symbol. It is unacceptable that the tricolor, which flies over the Kremlin and sows death in Ukraine, greets people on the websites and self-service screens of free Estonia. We consider the presence of the Russian flag in public spaces as a clear support for Russia’s war of conquest and the Putin regime.
We last wrote about this issue in January, focusing on Estonian gas stations. This time, we are examining the situation on the flagfront in major store chains, department stores, bookstores, and convenience stores. The overview is compiled as of April 28, 2024.
Five stains
More than two years after the war began, the aggressor’s tricolor still flutters on the self-service screens of Prisma, Maxima, Stockmann, and Apollo. The Kremlin’s state symbols are displayed on Selver‘s website.
Propastop has sent inquiries to all the named parties, asking for comments and urging them to remove the flags. Stockmann, Apollo, and Selver have not responded to the request.
Maxima’s public relations head, Ingrid Piirsalu, states that “the issue will be definitely considered,” without offering specific actions or deadlines.
Prisma’s communications director, Kertu Kärk, is more specific and promises to get rid of the Russian flag on screens during the second quarter.
Role models
As of early April, R-kiosk also displayed the Russian flag on its screens. Following Propastop’s inquiry, marketing manager Indrek Lass responded that the flag would be removed…within one day! And so it was, we commend the company for quickly washing away the stain.
The Russian flag was on the Grossi store website until Propastop’s inquiry, and now it has been removed. We also highlight Elron as a role model: the flag still flew in the self-service cash registers of trains in January, but not in April.
Stores that are doing well on this issue include Coop, Rimi, Lidl, Kaubamaja, and Rahva Raamat, all displaying language options in-store and online without supporting the aggressor.
Gas stations on the path of repentance
In January, we wrote about gas stations, all of which had the flag issue then. Thanks to Propastop’s initiative, the situation has greatly improved. Neste immediately removed the Russian flag, followed by Olerex and Alexela. Terminal Oil has rid itself of the flag on the car wash screen, but it remains on the store’s self-service screen.
Circle K, Krooning gas stations, and the Jetoil website have not managed to resolve the issue for several months. If you support Ukraine, this knowledge can help you choose where to refuel your car.
The insidious message of the Russian flag
Why do we consider such small flags to be such an important issue? Flags may be small, but the propaganda message behind them is significant. In addition to supporting aggression, the Russian flag in the language menu has another insidious aspect: it implies that the Russian language is directly linked to the Russian state. This spreads a harmful understanding to Estonia that Russia has the right to represent all Russian-speaking people. This narrative of Russkii Mir, or Russian World, is used by Putin’s regime to justify aggression and sow discord in neighbouring countries. Read the analysis of this narrative here.
Fortunately, there is a simple alternative in the language selection, that does not carry aggressive symbolism. This is text, in the case of Russian, in the form “RUS” or на русском.
Get involved!
If you want to help cleanse Estonia of Russian symbolism, your help is welcome. If you notice a flag, take a photo or screenshot and send it to [email protected]. Directly informing the company is also an effective tactic, especially if your employer’s website flies the military flag.
