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In evident protest against Russian expansionism following the referendum in Crimea on March 16, several streets in Prague carrying the names of regions said to be vulnerable to Russian expansionism have been adapted.

Focusing on streets named after Crimea, Ukraine, Sevastopol, the Black Sea and Estonia among others, the street signs have been covered with stickers carrying the inscription "Russian?" reports CTK. The Baltic states in particular are wary of Moscow's military incursion in Crimea, which it says is motivated by a drive to protect ethnic Russians. Latvia and Estonia have large ethnic Russian minorities, which have restricted citizenship rights.

A tram stop was rechristened - from "Crimea Street" to "Russia Street" - several days previously. "If we continue watching inactively, further stops can be renamed similarly anywhere along the East-West line," an accompanying poster in the centre of Prague warned.

Jan Charvat, spokesman for the Prague 10 district where the streets are situated, told the newswire no one had informed the town hall about the incident so far." After we find the streets in question, we will seek a remedy," he said.

If the street signs have been heavily damaged, the Prague 10 town hall would have to file a criminal complaint against the unknown perpetrator, the spokesman said. However, he added, as it now appears only that they have been covered with stickers, the authorities are not expecting a big bill.