Slovenian Embassy forced to lower flag in Kyiv

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Slovenia's Embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv lowered its flag Thursday because of its "similarity to the Russian flag."

Slovenia's charge d'affaires in Kyiv, Bostjan Lesjak, said the embassy hung the Slovenian and European Union flags on the building, which was closed after the war began with Russia and then later reopened.

The Ukrainian National Guard politely requested that the flag be lowered.

Slovenia reopened its Embassy in Kyiv on Monday, about a month after the country evacuated its diplomats from Ukraine on Feb. 26, two days after Russia launched its military operation.

Ambassador Tomaz Mencin continues to work from the Polish city of Rzeszow.

"In the morning, representatives of the (Ukrainian) national guard, followed by representatives of the police, visited me and very politely asked me if we could temporarily remove the Slovenian flag because it is too similar to the Russian one," Lesjak told TV Slovenia.

The Slovenian flag, like the Russian flag, consists of blue, white and red -- Panslavism colors.

Unlike the Russian flag, the Slovenian flag features the state coat of arms with the highest mountain in the country, Mount Triglav.