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Excuse Me, Why Is There Russian Flag Flying Over Alaska?

© Photo : pixabayDenali National Park at the Alaska
Denali National Park at the Alaska - Sputnik International
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Calm down everyone, the Russians haven’t “invaded” Alaska and put up their flag on American soil. A Russian flag was hoisted in Alaska as part of celebrations marking the 148th anniversary when the state fell under the jurisdiction of the United States, TV Channel Rossiya-24 reported.

For the first time in over 150 years, a delegation from Russia was invited to attend the celebrations. Later today, there will be a big festival in Alaska, as well as a public teleconference between the residents of Sitka, New York, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

It's a well-known fact that the largest state in the United States used to be part of the Russian Empire, before Emperor Alexander II decided to sell the massive territory in North America to the government of the United States in 1867.

The transfer ceremony took place in Sitka, then known as New Archangel. Both Russian and US soldiers marched in front of the main government building. After that the Russian flag was lowered and the American flag raised.

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