Russian President Vladimir Putin was trolled with an image of a Ukrainian flag on a digital billboard while visiting Kazakhstan, according to the Russian news outlet Meduza.
A criminal case has been launched in Kazakhstan, which shares a 7,500-kilometer border with Russia, after the Ukrainian flag was shown on a screen near the opera house in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana. It was quickly shut off, remaining out of service as of Thursday morning.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation into the incident.
“A criminal case has been opened. All circumstances of the incident are being established. Those guilty of illegal acts will be held accountable. The Ministry of Internal Affairs continues to work on the strict implementation of the principles of law and order,” it said in a post on Telegram.
Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for comment via email.
Newsweek also reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan for comment via email outside of business hours.