Since the U.S.S.R./Soviet Union no longer exists, can I take the country name and use it for a company say in Canada or the US? I know that for trademarks you have to keep using them in order to claim ownership. However, since there is no U.S.S.R./Soviet Union anymore I think it would be beneficial to use the name for publicity purposes for an upstart company.
Any ideas?
There is no trademark protection for nation names. Here, for example, is a company named Canada.
Could your logo be the flag of the USSR? Could the Canada Co. have the Canadian flag as its logo? Could it trademark that?
The Soviet Union will rise again!
You’d probably have hard time using an existing country’s flag for your logo, and wouldn’t want to, since you competitors could use it and claim they were copying the flag, too. You could, however, incorporate it as part of your logo.
Though why a business would want the hammer and sickle flag is beyond me.
They sell farming equipment?
No. Baking soda. 
As a joint venture of Pepsi, General Motors and Sanrio.