In a recent article in
The Voice of Russia (English-language version), it was noted that this year marks the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of the date when then-President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree establishing the insignia of presidential authority: the standard, or flag, of the President of the Russian Federation, and the presidential emblem.
The standard is square with three equal white, blue and red horizontal stripes, gold-fringed about the edges, with a golden double-headed eagle in the center bearing St. George on horseback slaying the dragon, on a red shield. A silver cramp-iron is engraved with the president’s name and the dates of his term in office and attached to the flagpole.
Mikhail Medvedev, a member of the Heraldic Council and well-known heraldic artist, says that the composition of the standard took shape in the late 17th century, the time of Peter the Great.
The complete article, entitled “Insignia of Russian presidential authority turn 15", can be found at:
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/08/05/54242484.html
And, of course, these are the arms of the old Russian Empire, although I believe that the Tsars used a black eagle. Rather ironic.
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