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Putin Submits Draft Law on State Symbols to Duma
Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a draft law on state symbols to the State Duma Monday evening, after a meeting with the Presidium of the State Council.
The presidium decided Monday by a majority vote that the country's national anthem should be based on the music of the Soviet anthem, its national flag should be the Russian tricolor and the state emblem should be a two-headed eagle.
The meeting also agreed that the red Victory flag from World War II should become the banner of Russia's armed forces.
"The majority of those present agreed that music by composer Alexandrov may be used as the national anthem. The text might be selected in a competition," said Duma speaker Gennady Seleznyov, who was also invited to the meeting.
He noted that a new national anthem should be confirmed before the end of the year so that it could be played on New Year's Eve.
President Vladimir Putin said he is proposing "the traditional tricolor that Russia has had for over 300 years be made Russia's national flag, and the music of the former Soviet national anthem by composer Alexandrov, the national anthem."
He also said he will urge the deputies to confirm "the traditional Russian double-headed eagle, which is over 500 years old," as the state emblem.
"In the future, the red banner might be made the official banner of the armed forces," he said, adding that the red banner must have a "worthy place" in Russian history.
The president said opinion polls had showed most citizens give preference to the music by Alexandrov, and that "national anthems are created for the people."
The rejection of the symbols that the country cherished before and after the October Revolution is "wrong in principle," he added.
The approval of the draft law needs a constitutional majority of over 300 votes in the State Duma.
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