Russia has restored its
Communist-era anthem with new lyrics, replacing the wordless
Glinka tune that was used during
Yeltsin's regime. The old anthem was composed by
Alexander Alexandrov.
This was not such a bad choice.
Russia has had 4 anthems this century: the tzarist anthem(can't be used without a
tzar), The Internationale(can't be used except by Communists),
Hymn to the Soviet Union and the Glinka piece that was wordless. Most Russians identify with the Soviet Anthem, that is to say, the stirring
instrumental version.