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 >>/20085/
> Is there any political context behind the flag change or was it merely an aesthetic choice?

Culture committee said that old colors, white-azure-scarlet (they were written like this) weren't used in Russian history, so white-blue-red is better. Aspect ratio is aesthetic I guess. No one (at least officially) linked flag change with that parliament happenings, it was just a good chance to replace flag in large array of laws when new constitution was signed. Although even in new flag there is no precise specification for colors, only white, blue and red are specified.

Overall, this flag has long history, but it wasn't pure old Russian flag. It was used for civilian and trade purposes in Russian Empire until 1896. Before monarchy often used black-yellow-white, other flags used too. White-blue-red was also used Russian Liberation Army (nazis).