Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday bestowed Russia’s Order of Alexander Nevsky on Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.  

Emomali Rahmon is reportedly awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky for a large individual contribution to strengthening of strategic partnership and alliance between the Russian Federation and Tajikistan.  

The Order of Alexander Nevsky is an order of merit of the Russian Federation named in honor of saint Alexander Nevsky (1220–1263) and bestowed to civil servants for twenty years or more of highly meritorious service.  It was originally established by the Soviet Union as a military honor during World War II, more precisely by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 7, 1942.  Its statute was amended by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 26, 1947.  It bears a similar name to the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky which had been established by Empress Catherine I of Russia in 1725, and continued to be bestowed by the heads of the House of Romanov after the 1917 Russian Revolution.  The Order of Alexander Nevsky was reinstated by the Soviet Union, minus the words "Imperial" and "Saint", for award to officers of the army for personal courage and resolute leadership.  The Order was retained by the new Russian Federation following the dissolution of the USSR by Decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation 2557-I of March 20, 1992 but was never awarded.  The September 7, 2010 Decree №1099 of the President of the Russian Federation redesigned the badge of the Order closer to pre-1917 imperial model and amended the statute of the Order making it a purely civilian award.

Meanwhile, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov was honored with Russia’s Order of Friendship “for a large individual contribution to development of Russian-Tajik relations, strengthening of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between the peoples.”

The Order of Friendship is a state decoration of the Russian Federation established by Boris Yeltsin by presidential decree 442 of March 2, 1994 to reward foreign nationals whose work, deeds and efforts were aimed at the betterment of relations with the Russian Federation and its people. Its statute was later amended by presidential decree 19 of January 6, 1999, presidential decree 1099 of September 7, 2010, presidential decree 1631 of December 16, 2011, and presidential decree 308 of March 16, 2012.  It can trace its lineage to the Soviet Order of Friendship of Peoples.

The Order of Friendship is awarded to Russian and foreign nationals for special merit in strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and understanding between nations, for fruitful work on the convergence and mutual enrichment of cultures of nations and peoples; for the active conservation, development and promotion of the cultural and historical heritage of Russia; for great contribution to the implementation of joint ventures with the Russian Federation, major economic projects and attracting investments into the economy of the Russian Federation; for broad charitable activities.