No flag is illegal. You can indeed switch flag, but it's not easy, and they do not like that solution for several reasons: - for them the flag means "Russia"

No flag is illegal. You can indeed switch flag, but it's not easy, and they do not like that solution for several reasons: - for them the flag means "Russia" not "Putin" (they added the Ukrainian flag by the way, which might also be borderline illegal) - I suspect they do not want to give way to what they perceive as a temporary hysteria - the ship is a replica of the first ship of the Baltic sea, it carries various flags of historical importance. You can't just relabel it as a panamean ship and call it a day (although maybe that's what will be done eventually, if only temporarily). I personally believe that they are right to stand against russophobia, as long as possible. Please don't misinterpret this as suport for the current war, or support for some russian imperialism. Come to visit the ship one day if you have the chance, and see for yourself.