National Anthem of Russia - Patrioticheskaya Pesnya

Patrioticheskaya Pesnya

With the impending collapse of the Soviet Union in early 1990, a new national anthem was needed to help define the reorganized nation and to reject the Soviet past. The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR, Boris Yeltsin, was advised to revive "God Save The Tsar" with modifications to the lyrics. However, he instead selected a piece composed by Mikhail Glinka. The piece, known as "Patrioticheskaya Pesnya", was a wordless piano composition discovered after Glinka's death. "Patrioticheskaya Pesnya" was performed in front of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR on 23 November 1990. The song was decreed by the Supreme Soviet to be the new Russian anthem that same day.

Between 1990 and 1993, many votes were called for in the State Duma to make "Patrioticheskaya Pesnya" the official anthem of Russia. However, it faced stiff opposition from members of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, who wanted the Soviet anthem restored. Constitutionally, the state symbols of Russia are an anthem, flag and coat of arms. According to Article 70 of the Constitution, these state symbols required further definition by future legislation. As it was a constitutional matter, it had to be passed by a two-thirds majority in the Duma. Yeltsin, then President of the Russian Federation, eventually issued a presidential decree on 11 December 1993, making "Patrioticheskaya Pesnya" the official anthem for Russia.