The Scottish Government has quietly ditched the backdrop used at televised covid briefings after red-faced officials realised its flag is the same as the one used by the Russian navy.
A reverse saltire - with a blue cross instead of a white one - has been flown by Russian war ships since at least the 18th century.
Nicola Sturgeon makes regular updates on Scotland's battle against coronavirus from a studio at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh.
The First Minister stood in front a navy backdrop with the Scottish Government's official logo prominently displayed in white.
The backdrop will now be changed as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A spokeswoman said: "A white with blue saltire version of the Scottish Government logo is part of the organisation's approved branding toolkit.
"Given the situation in Ukraine the Scottish Government will no longer be using this version of the logo for media briefings."
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "This is the right decision. They have narrowly avoided an embarrassing situation where the Russian naval flag would have been flown at Scottish government briefings.
"That would have been an entirely inappropriate scenario given the appalling actions by Vladimir Putin, so we're pleased to hear that this logo won't see the light of day any longer."
Scottish Government staff were also informed via email today they should no longer use the reverse saltire logo "under any circumstances".
The Russian navy has long links with Scotland.
The man widely credited with modernising the fleet in the 18th century was Samuel Greig, a Scottish sailor born in Inverkeithing in 1735.
Greig served in the Royal Navy but was one of several Scots transferred to Russia after an appeal was made by Moscow for experienced naval commanders.
The Fifer achieved the rank of admiral and died in Estonia in 1788.
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