MOSCOW, November 15 (RAPSI) - Lawmakers from the A Just Russia party have drafted a bill proposing jail term for desecration of the Russian National Anthem, Izvestia daily reported Friday.

According to the Constitution, the official symbols of Russia are the flag, the national emblem and the anthem. At present, the Code of Administrative violations stipulates fines from 2.000 ($61) to 150.000 rubles ($4.590) for their nonconforming use. Meanwhile, the Criminal Code prescribes punishment up to one year in prison only for disrespect to the flag or the emblem.

In Ukraine, for instance, people face up to 3 years in prison for disrespect to the National Anthem and up to 2 years for disrespect to the anthem of other countries, Oleg Mikheyev, one of the authors of the initiative, told the newspaper. "I believe we must finally protect our national symbols too," he said.

Alexander Remezkov (United Russia), deputy chair of the Committee on Criminal Law, endorsed the initiative. "It needs to be done. The anthem is a symbol of the country on a par with the flag and the emblem," he said.