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.