The only official heraldic institution in Russia is the Heraldic Council at the President of the Russian Federation. The Decree No. 856 by President Yeltsin dated June 29th, 1999 became the legislative basis for the establishment of the Heraldic Council. Georgy Vilinbakhov, the State King of Arms, has been head of the State Heraldry, and then the Heraldic Council for many years now. The official state symbols of Russia is the coat of arms, the flag and the anthem. The Coat of Arms is the official state symbol, same as the flag and the anthem. The emblem of the Russian Federation was changed by the Decree of President Yeltsin on November 30th, 1993. The anthem of Russia is an official state symbol, same as the emblem and the flag. The flag is an official state symbol, same as the emblem and the anthem, and embodies unity and harmony, culture, national identity, and state sovereignty.