Sneakers, balls and a trident
Vladimir Davankov, who serves as Deputy Chairman of the State Duma and holds the position of First Deputy Chairman in the New People faction, urged the Ministry of Internal Affairs to clarify that the yellow and blue color combination cannot serve as a justification for arrests or prosecutions. He argued that a trend toward policing fashion choices would be absurd and burdensome, calling for an end to the needless uncertainty. The appeal appeared on Telegram.
The trigger for this appeal was a recent incident in a school in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug where a school director filed a police report after a mother appeared with a child wearing a yellow-blue braid. Later reports indicated several other individuals in Moscow faced police attention over color combinations in their clothing, sparking discussions about what can be considered a political signal.
Davankov noted that during the same period TV presenter Olga Skabeeva had posted a spring bouquet photo featuring lilac and yellow on her TG channel. He observed that there were no grounds to accuse her of promoting a particular political agenda, noting that Skabeeva deleted the image within ten minutes. This instance was cited to illustrate the thin line between personal expression and political implication.
Authorities in Saint Petersburg reported an uptick in complaints from residents about perceived enemy symbols and the use of blue and yellow in public displays. One resident on Irinovsky Prospekt complained about a blue and yellow flag on a neighbor’s balcony, only for it to be revealed as balloons. The city’s police have repeatedly documented such concerns, illustrating how color cues can provoke public reactions even when the intent is benign.
There have also been instances involving a car bearing a sticker with the emblem of Ukraine on its trunk. A driver described traveling with the emblem for years, noting that it had become a minor but persistent point of attention among onlookers. Police responses emphasized that while the symbol itself may be unsettling to some, it does not automatically constitute a crime; however, authorities may investigate for hidden intent, particularly when online activity or associations suggest more serious ties. The aim, officials say, is to assess all relevant facts collectively and determine whether there are connections to extremist groups or foreign intelligence services that could warrant legal action.
Earlier in the year, media outlets reported separate incidents involving individuals wearing yellow-blue attire. A porter at a psycho-neurological institution was detained after wearing a yellow-blue jacket, and a person in similar colors was detained near Theater Square in Moscow. These reports fed into a broader conversation about how color symbolism is interpreted by authorities and the public alike, and whether such expressions reflect political allegiance or mere fashion choices.
The Liberal Democratic Party, whose official colors are blue and yellow, reiterated its stance that these colors remain central to its identity. Party leadership emphasized that their symbolism has historical and organizational significance, noting extensive distribution of materials and registered insignia in those colors. At the same time, factions in Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, have continued to use different color schemes on materials and branding to reflect regional identities. Analysts say such distinctions can complicate the interpretation of color symbolism across borders and political contexts.
Justice professionals weigh in on the matter as well. A prominent lawyer, who serves on the Supreme Council, stated in an interview that clothing color alone should not be the basis for accountability. He added that law enforcement may, on occasion, examine social media and online behavior to understand intent. In evaluating such cases, investigators would consider the totality of evidence, including any documented affiliations with extremist groups or foreign intelligence services, before drawing conclusions about potential punishment. This perspective underscores the balance between protecting public safety and preserving freedom of expression, especially when visual cues could be misread as political endorsement or agitation.