About 49 percent of Russian citizens know the words of the national anthem, which is 10 percent higher than in 2009, according to the recent poll.

      “The number of those who can recall the first lines of Russia’s national anthem has risen from 39 percent in 2009 to 49 percent in 2012", state-run pollster VTsIOM said. 32 percent of Russians don't know the text of the anthem at all, mostly elderly Russians (44 percent).

      The state emblem of a double-headed eagle is still the most recognizable symbol of Russia, as a total of 88 percent respondents can describe it. However, the situation with the national flag is much worse, as only 68 percent correctly named its colors and their order. Almost 3% of respondents named flags of other countries meaning Russian flag.

      The poll was conducted on August 18-19, timed to the Day of the National Colours in Russia(August 22), with 1,600 respondents from 46 Russian regions participating.