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Russia proposes bill to protect anthem

MOSCOW, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Russia's lawmakers prepared a draft of a federal law to protect the national anthem from disrespect and abuse, the Duma's press service reported Monday.

The bill envisions a maximum one-year prison sentence for those who violate the stricture.

Currently, Russia's Penal Code contains an article that foresees punishment for abuse of the national flag and coat-of-arms, but does not protect the anthem.

If the bill, prepared by the Duma's Legislation Committee is passed, the mildest sentence will be a fine amounting to 100 minimum wages.

Last December, the parliament voted to adopt the new symbols, including the Soviet-era anthem and tsarist coat-of-arms and tricolor flag.

The 381-51 vote to reinstate the Soviet anthem stirred Russia's liberals who argued that its melody revived memories of the Stalinist regime that sent millions of people to labor camps and death.

The original songwriter, Sergei Mikhalkov, rewrote the lyrics to adapt them to the post-Soviet Russia's reality, sparking debates that new words could not alter the message relayed by the song's unchanged melody.

The new law should apparently curb and punish attempts to dishonor the anthem by refusing to stand up while it plays -- a move advocated by the opponents of the Soviet tune.

Alexander Alexandrov originally composed the controversial anthem in 1943 while Nazis occupied the greater part of European Russia.

Approved personally by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, the tune later came to symbolize the might of the Soviet Union and its World War II glory.