How was the state awards ceremony
Vladimir Putin held the first large-scale state awards ceremony since the end of the pandemic. It was attended by the laureates of 2021-2023, as well as a fundamentally new category of awardees — teachers, who were named by the participants of the special operation in Ukraine as their mentors. By tradition, the event was held in the Catherine Hall of the former Senate, under the same dome, over which a drone was shot down on the night of May 3. Putin told the audience that «with the help of the NMD, Russia is trying to stop the war waged against our people.»
The wife of the head of Chechnya, Medni Kadyrova, received the order «Mother Heroine» from the president's hands.
Previously, state awards were often presented in the Kremlin. But some of the participants had to wait several years for the current ceremony. In particular, the decree on awarding saxophonist Igor Butman the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 4th Class, was issued back in October 2021. Ramzan Kadyrov's wife, Medni Kadyrova, became a mother-heroine last fall. And the former head of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev, was awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called on the occasion of his 85th birthday, which he celebrated in January 2022. Apparently, the laureates of past years have already “washed” their orders and medals for a long time, but no one even looked at the ceremony: it’s one thing to just receive an award, and quite another to receive it from the president’s hands. And even in such a difficult time. The awardees themselves stated this bluntly.
Mintimer Shaimiev noted that age gives him the right to speak as he is. And therefore, on behalf of all those present, he expresses the deepest respect for the President. “Despite what is happening in the world, we continue to develop and strengthen the sense of unity,” the retired politician said, calling for special attention to the economic performance achieved by Russia. Shaimiev noted that on TV they show the abundance in which “our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren” grow up: “They get used to it, they already eat at full strength, enjoy, grow. We have a good future.» “We need to value what we have. And firmly, showing will, so continue. There is no other way and no need,” the political elder gave his parting words.
Test cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky honestly admitted that he was tired of being silent: he spent a week in isolation (previously, quarantine before events with the participation of the president lasted two weeks, but now it has been reduced). It would be wrong to speak of the current time as difficult, he said. There have never been easy times in the history of Russia: since ancient times, enemies have tried to destroy «the gene of invincibility given to our people by our ancestors.» Even now, Western politicians “are not smart enough to understand” that “we are invincible, simply invincible!” Novitsky exclaimed with a kind of despair (probably from this Western stupidity). “We can get distracted for a while, kick everyone in the neck and return to our peaceful way of life again,” the laureate spoke about the historical mission of Russia. Novitsky asked Putin not to write off cosmonauts when they are unable to fly. “In general, we are normal healthy men,” he assured, apparently hinting at a willingness to join the CWO.
State Duma deputy Leonid Slutsky used the award ceremony to remind the audience about the prophetic gift of the “great founder” of the Liberal Democratic Party, who was able to look into the future and predict the present with the “power of intellect”. Igor Butman suddenly remembered Bill Clinton with a kind word. Pandito Khambo Lama — Catherine II, who recognized the Buddhist Church of Transbaikalia. And the representative of the Federation of Jewish Communities, Aleksey Gurevich, considered it necessary to appeal to the Almighty. “God bless you Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,” he said to the president.
Among the participants in the ceremony was one real foreigner, however, who received the award back in 2021 «for his great contribution to the development of Russian-German cultural and humanitarian ties.» “I stay on the side of Russia,” said Hans-Joachim Frei, who used to work in Dresden and now in Sochi, standing next to VVP. Ballet dancer Sergei Polunin did not hide from journalists that he now has three tattoos with Putin — on his chest and on his shoulders. “I love him, I support him,” the laureate admitted.
The soldiers of the NMD, unlike civilians, were laconic and overwhelmingly received awards in silence. Those who nevertheless took the floor promised that «victory will be ours.» “Today, the entire West is up in arms against us. Their goal is to destroy our country, to slander and trample it. But we, the descendants of our glorious ancestors, will never allow this,” said Hero of Russia Alexander Kolesov. In addition to the fighters themselves, their mentors, school teachers, were also noted.
Vladimir Putin, addressing all the awardees, stressed that today Russia is experiencing a “moment of powerful consolidation” and “aggravation of our national feeling” in order to ensure the future of the country. “And you are making your visible, tangible contribution to this,” the president said.