The flag of Azerbaijan was officially adopted on February 5, 1991.
After gaining its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, this flag, dating back to 1920, was hoisted for all to see. It features three equal horizontal bands of blue, red, and green. A crescent and eight-pointed star, symbols of Islam, are centered in the red band. The country had a long alliance with Turkey, and the blue color has long been associated with the Turkic peoples. Green is said to symbolize the strong European influences on local culture.