Order of Honour (Russia)

The Order of Honour (Орден Почёта) is a state order of the Russian Federation established by Presidential Decree № 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 № 19 of January 6, 1999 and more lately by decree № 1099 of January 7, 2010 which defined its present status. The Russian Federation Order provides continuity from the Soviet Union's identically named Order. The Soviet Order of Honor was denoted by a gray yellow edged ribbon.

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 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
 * 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, 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 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 CEO of Aeroflot
 * Anatoly Yuryevich Ravikovich, Actor
 * Aleksandr Yur'evich Rumyantsev, Minister, Scientist, Academician, and ambassador
 * Andrey Tokarev, Paralympic medalist
 * Valery Yakovlevich Leontiyev, 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
 * Evgeniy Mironov, Artistic Director of the Federal State Institution of Culture "The State Theatre of Nations"
 * Anatoliy Aleksandrov, Rector of Bauman State Technical University