In a special ceremony at the Kremlin's St. Andrew Hall on July 9, 2024, President Vladimir Putin awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russia’s highest national honor, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. The award, which was announced in 2019, recognizes Modi's contributions to fostering India-Russia relations.
Accepting the award, Prime Minister Modi dedicated it to the people of India and the longstanding friendship between India and Russia. "This recognition illuminates the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our two countries," Modi said.
The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, instituted by Tsar Peter the Great in 1698, is Russia's oldest and highest state decoration. Named after Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Russia, the award was originally intended to honor the most distinguished military and civilian leaders. After being discontinued during the Soviet era, the award was reinstated in 1998.
Modi is the first Indian leader to receive this prestigious honor. Other notable international recipients of the award include Chinese President Xi Jinping, former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and former Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev. The award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to international relations, peace, and friendship between nations.
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