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Bill prohibiting desecration of Russian national anthem submitted to State Duma

If adopted, guilty parties will face jail term of twelve months or forcible public works of the same duration

MOSCOW, November 15, (ITAR-TASS) A bill stipulating criminal responsibility for outrages on Russia’s national anthem has been submitted to the State Duma. It was initiated by MP Oleg Mikheyev of A Just Russia party’s faction.

An explanatory note attached to the bill says that “the state flag, the coat-of-arms and the anthem are official state symbols of the Russian Federation” but the effective legislation /Article 17.10 of the Administrative Code and Article 329 of the Criminal Code/ envisions punishment for desecrating the flag and coat-of-arms, while maltreatment of the anthem is punishable by administrative responsibility.

The bill calls for amending the Criminal Code with a clause that will administer a jail term of twelve months or forcible public works of the same duration.

The new law, if adopted will take legal effect as of the date of its official publication.