The red, blue, and orange horizontally divided flag was also used during the short period of independence after the Russion revolution (1918 - 1921). Afterwards, the nation became a republic constituting Soviet Union and the flag's design changed but was then reinstituted in 1990, a year before Soviet Union dissolved and the nation gained independence. Red represents blood shed for independence, blue, the rich national land, sky, and hope, and orange, wheat, blessings from God, and the unity and courage of the citizens.