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"Let us not forget that we are talking here about the majority of the people," President Putin said last Monday in a passionate plea on national television. "It is possible that the people and I are mistaken," he said, but he added that rejecting all Soviet symbols would suggest that "our mothers and fathers lived a useless life, lived their lives in vain. I cannot agree with this, either in my head, or in my heart!"

A group of 35 prominent intellectuals, including a progressive Orthodox priest, Alexander Borisov, published an open letter to the president warning that a return to the Soviet anthem could cause a national schism. "The attempt to resurrect the music of the Soviet anthem triggers nothing but protest and disgust," the letter stated. "There is no new text that could hide the immortal [original] words praising Lenin and Stalin."

Leading Orthodox Church officials appear to have changed their mind during the debate. A prominent church leader, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk, initially expressed support for Glinka's music in a newspaper article. But late last month he appeared on the state-owned RTR television station to support Alexandrov's music.

Other religious leaders also contributed to the discussion. A Muslim official, Mufti Talgat Tadzhutdin, said he had no problem with either the double-headed eagle or with the Soviet-era anthem. "It is our past, and you cannot escape it," Tadzhutdin told Interfax. "For seven decades we and our ancestors lived in the Soviet state, and many recall their youth with warm feelings. It is wonderful that we won't forget that period."

More argument is expected when the new lyrics for the anthem are published. A draft by the poet who wrote the lyrics for the Soviet anthem, Sergei Mikhalkov, and another by former prime minister Yevgeni Primakov have appeared in the press in recent weeks. In his new version Mikhalkov, who once composed verses to glorify Lenin and Stalin, writes: "With hope and faith, forward, Russians! And may the Lord safeguard us on the path!"

Some of the drafts were clearly ironic, including one from a liberal party, the Union of Right Forces, stating: "We work honestly and pay our taxes! Glory to you, O private property!"

But despite the opposition and the irony, Putin's proposal is almost certain to be approved by the Duma.

Copyright © ENI.

Other media coverage of the Russian national anthem includes:

Putin Out of Tune With Yeltsin — International Herald Tribune (Dec. 8, 2000)

Bitter feelings as Putin dredges up the past — The Age (Dec. 7, 2000)

Soviet anthem revival stirs Russians — The [Baltimore] Sun (Dec. 6, 2000)

Putin Urges Revival Of Soviet Symbols — International Herald Tribune (Dec. 6, 2000)

The Soviet National Anthem is available in a variety of formats here.

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December (Web-only) 2000, Vol. 44