Order of Honour (Russia)

The Order of Honour (орден Почёта) is a state order of the Russian Federation established by Presidential Decree No. 442 of March 2, 1994 to recognise high achievements in government, economic, scientific, sociocultural, public, sport and charitable activities. Its statute was amended by decree No. 19 of January 6, 1999 and more lately by decree No. 1099 of January 7, 2010 which defined its present status.

The award is the successor of the Soviet Order of the Badge of Honour (renamed Order of Honour in 1988).

Award statute
The Order of Honour is awarded to citizens of the Russian Federation:
 * For high achievements in production and economic indicators in industry, construction, agriculture, communications, energy and transport, coupled with the predominant use of innovative technologies in the production process
 * For a significant increase in the level of socio-economic development of the Russian Federation; for achievements in modernizing the Russian health care system, aimed at significantly improving the quality of the provision of medical services, as well as the development and widespread practical applications of modern and innovative methods of diagnosing and treating diseases
 * For achievements in scientific research resulting in significant Russian scientific and technological advantage in various fields of science, increased domestic production of competitive high-tech products
 * For services to improve the Russian education system aimed at dramatically improving the quality of the education provided, the system of training specialists for the Russian economy and increasing international prestige of Russian educational institutions
 * For significant contribution to the preservation, promotion and development of Russian culture, art, history and the Russian language, associated with increased levels of cultural and humanitarian development of civil and patriotic education of the younger generation
 * For very fruitful public, charitable and community activities
 * For merit in the promotion, and support of youth sports, as well as professional sport, considerably increasing the level of physical activity and making Russia a World leader in individual sports

The Order may also be conferred on foreign citizens who have performed outstanding service to improve bilateral relations with Russia.

The Order of Honour is worn on the left side of the chest and when in the presence of other medals and orders of the Russian Federation, is situated immediately after the Order "For Naval Merit".

Award description
The Order is struck from silver and covered with enamels, it is shaped as a 42 mm in diameter octagonal cross enamelled in blue on its obverse except for a 2 mm wide band along its entire outer edge which remains bare silver. The obverse bears a white enamelled central medallion bordered by a silver laurel wreath, the medallion bears the silver state symbol of the Russian Federation. On the otherwise plain reverse, two rivets and the award serial number at the bottom.

The Order of Honour is suspended by a ring through the badge's suspension loop to a standard Russian pentagonal mount covered by a 24 mm wide overlapping blue silk moiré ribbon with a 2.5 mm wide white stripe situated 5 mm from the ribbon's right edge.

Notable recipients (partial list)
The individuals below are recipients of the Order of Honour".


 * Mikhail Gorbachev, last General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, first and only elected President of the USSR
 * Pavel Romanovich Popovich, cosmonaut
 * Viacheslav "Slava" Alexandrovich Fetisov, former Minister of Sport of Russia
 * Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky, politician, Vice-Chairman of the State Duma
 * Moshe Kantor, peace activist
 * Tikhon Nikolayevich Khrennikov, composer, pianist and political activist
 * Muslim Mahammad oglu Magomayev, (musician) singer
 * Mikhail Yefimovich Fradkov, former Prime Minister of Russia
 * Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, diplomat, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations (1994–2004), Russia's Foreign Minister (2004–present)
 * Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev, Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of the Russian Federation, and cosmonaut
 * Yuli Mikhailovich Vorontsov, diplomat, former Russian Ambassador to the United States
 * Dmitry Timofeyevich Yazov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
 * Yury Mikhaylovich Luzhkov, former Mayor of Moscow
 * Sergey Tetyukhin, volleyball player
 * Sergey Kuzhugetovich Shoygu, former Minister of Emergency Situations, Minister of Defense (2012–present)
 * Viktor Petrovich Savinykh, cosmonaut
 * Sherig-ool Dizizhikovich Oorzhak, former leader of the Tuva
 * Juan Antonio Samaranch, seventh President of the International Olympic Committee
 * Vitaly Gennadyevich Savelyev, Director General and former CEO of Aeroflot
 * Anatoly Yuryevich Ravikovich, actor
 * Aleksandr Yur'evich Rumyantsev, minister, scientist, academic, and ambassador
 * Andrey Tokarev, Paralympic medalist
 * Roman Abramovich, former owner of Chelsea F.C
 * Valery Leontiev, pop singer
 * Vladimir Putin, former Director of the FSB (Holding the rank of Colonel in the KGB), former Prime Minister of Russia, and the 2nd and the 4th (current) President of Russia
 * Christophe de Margerie (posthumously), CEO and Chairman of Total S.A.
 * Alexander Zaldostanov, leader of the Night Wolves
 * Evgeny Plushenko, figure skater, Olympic Champion
 * Aliya Mustafina, artistic gymnast, two time Olympic Champion
 * Arnold Meri, honorary chairman of the Estonian Anti-Fascist Committee (posthumously)
 * Philipp Kirkorov, pop singer
 * Alexander Ovechkin, NHL ice hockey left winger, seven time Kharlamov Trophy winner
 * Andrei Vasilevskiy, NHL ice hockey goaltender, Vezina Trophy winner, two-time Stanley Cup winner and Conn Smythe Trophy winner
 * Valery Khalilov, Russian military conductor
 * Larisa Dolina, Russian singer
 * Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 2nd President of Kazakhstan
 * Nikolai Kardashev Astrophysicist
 * Oleg Leonidovich Kuznetsov, current president of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
 * Mikhail Golovatov, intelligence officer
 * Valentina Gaganova, textile worker and politician
 * Andrey Vladimirovich Skoch  (December 13, 2010) — Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the III, IV, V, VI and VII convocations