On May 10, 1883, by a decree of Emperor Alexander III, the white-blue-red colors were declared the national colors of Russia. On the eve of the coronation of Alexander III, a decree was issued by the Minister of Internal Affairs "On flags for decorating buildings on solemn occasions," allowing the use of only the white-blue-red flag for decorating buildings and prohibiting the use of foreign flags for decorating buildings on solemn occasions: “In solemn occasions when it is deemed possible to allow the decoration of buildings with flags, exclusively the Russian flag, consisting of three stripes: the upper — white, the middle — blue, and the lower — red; the use of foreign flags is allowed only in relation to buildings occupied by embassies and consulates of foreign powers.” The red color symbolized power, the blue — the color of the Virgin Mary under whose protection Russia stands, and the white — the color of freedom and independence. These colors also symbolized the union of White, Little, and Great Russia.