The award "For Services to the Fatherland" was one of the awards of the new Russian state. It was established in March 1994 by decree of the President of the Russian Federation. Has several degrees and until 1998 was the highest award in the country.
Institution
In the era of the existence of the Soviet Union, its leadership established and issued many state awards, and most of them were associated with the period of the Great Patriotic War. After the collapse of the USSR, from a legal and social point of view, there was some confusion with the awards, their significance in the new historical realities. However, already four years after the birth of the new state, an award was established that, to a certain extent, continues the tradition of the Order of St. Vladimir.
Historical roots
The Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st degree, as well as other degrees, is marked by the motto "benefit,Honor and glory". It is known that this was the motto worn by the Order of St. Vladimir. This award appeared in 1782 in honor of Prince Vladimir the Baptist by decree of Catherine the Great and also had four degrees. The empress timed the establishment of the award to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of her reign. The order was awarded to both military and civilians. And although the lowest ranks could also claim the distinction, due to the order of awarding the highest degree, only ranks of a level no lower than the Privy Councilor could claim. Seven years later, Catherine, as another additional distinguishing feature to the order of the fourth degree, which was issued for military merit and exploits, added a red-black bow. One of the first to be awarded such a distinction was the great Russian commander Mikhail Barclay de Tolly. The Order was active until the October Revolution of 1917.
Awarding rules
The statute of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland implies the awarding of a wide range of outstanding services. It includes achievements in the field of strengthening the statehood of the country, socio-economic development, in the field of sports, culture and art, science, international cooperation, and increasing the defense capability of Russia.
Until 1998, the award had the status of the highest state. Then in July, the head of state established a new order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. In 2010, the award system has undergone some improvements. The regulations for this order have also been supplemented with minor changes.
Award degrees
The state order has four degrees. The highest is the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st class. Orders of the first two degrees have a sign and a star, while the remaining two degrees require only a sign. The awarding process involves successive resignation to the award from the fourth to the first degree. This implies that the award of the insignia of the lowest level of the hierarchy, the fourth, is possible only on the condition that the gentleman has already received the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland of the first degree, as well as the second.
For the military, who, during combat operations or under other circumstances, showed heroism, valor and distinguished themselves in the performance of tasks, their own modification of the award is intended - the badge of the order with swords.
Rules for awarding orders
The Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree, can also be awarded bypassing the basic rule. Persons who can claim a high award include those assigned to the Hero of Russia, Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation, Hero of the USSR or Hero of Socialist Labor. In addition, holders of the orders of St. George, Alexander Nevsky, Ushakov, Suvorov can also be among the awarded. The statute of the award also allows that it can also be awarded to a person previously not marked with any state insignia, if such is the decision of the highest official of the Russian Federation.
There are also a number of rules for awarding signs of the first two degrees. So, the order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 1st degree is awarded twice a year - in honor ofcelebration of the Constitution Day of the Russian Federation and the Day of Russia. As a rule, this is an annual solemn ceremony held in the Catherine's Hall of the Kremlin, where everyone assigned to the award is invited. The presentation is made personally by the President of the country. The Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd class, is awarded in the same way.
Exterior design
The award, depending on seniority, has its own appearance. So, the two senior degrees include a sign and a star, while the two junior ones include only a sign. Also, a silk, moiré ribbon of dark red color is attached to the two senior orders. The badge of the order, made of gilded silver, has the shape of a cross with equal and expanding ends. The obverse is coated with ruby enamel. Here, in the center, a large gilded image of the state emblem of Russia is superimposed. On the reverse in the center there is a medallion, along the circumference of which there is an inscription - the motto of the order "benefit, honor and glory". The year of foundation of the award is located in the center of the composition - "1994". Laurel branches are engraved at the very bottom of the medallion. The order number of the award is placed on the lower vertical beam of the cross.
The largest cross is included in the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st degree. The distance between the wide ends of the cross is six centimeters. Attaches with a 10 cm wide strap. In the order of the second degree, these indicators are equal to five and 4.5 centimeters. The third degree is five and 2.4 centimeters. The smallest cross of the fourth degree, there is a distance betweenends is only four centimeters. It is attached to a pentagonal block trimmed with a 2.4 cm wide moiré ribbon using an eyelet and a ring.
The eight-pointed star of the order is made of silver with polished shtrals located between the main rays. On the obverse there is a silver medallion, around the circumference of which the motto of the order (without a comma) and laurel branches are engraved in relief letters on red enamel. In the center of the medallion on black enamel is placed a gilded relief image of the Russian state emblem. On the reverse of the star is a serial number. The size of the stars also depends on the degree. The first degree assumes a length between opposite ends of 8.2 centimeters, the second degree - one centimeter less.
The military award suggests additional paraphernalia - crossed swords. They are attached to the ring above the cross. The sword is 2.8 cm long and 3 mm wide.
Rules for wearing awards
The insignia described in this material is one of the highest state awards, which has a fairly wide statute. They also provide instructions for wearing this insignia. The most solemn appearance is the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st class. The badge of the order is located on a ribbon passing through the right shoulder. The star is attached to the chest on the left side below the awards on the block. If the gentleman has the Order of St. George, the award is located under him. The same applies to the star of the order of the second degree. Having twothe first degrees of the order involves wearing only the star of the highest category. At the same time, the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd class, is located on the neck ribbon. The same rules apply to the third degree.
The youngest award is worn on the chest on the left side on the block. If there is St. George of the fourth degree, the award is placed after him. In the presence of several degrees, the holder of the order wears the sign of the highest of them. This rule does not apply to a military award with swords. Medals of this insignia are not worn if there is an order "For Merit to the Fatherland". Orders and medals do not overlap, except for the military medal with swords.
Special nuances
In addition to the main form of the order of the fourth degree, a miniature copy of it is also included in the kit. It can be worn both everyday and on special occasions. It, like the main award, is attached after a miniature copy of St. George of the same degree.
There are also some differences between wearing orders in uniform and civilian clothes. In the first case, the tape is attached with a strap. If there is an award of St. George, the ribbon of this order is first put on, and then the ribbon "For Merit" follows. On a civilian suit, the tape is attached with a socket on the left side.
Awarded
For 21 years, 26 people have become full holders of the state award. Angry scientists and cultural figures: physicist, Nobel Prize winner Zhores Alferov, director of the Pushkin Museum Irina Antonova, actor LeonidArmored, director Galina Volchek, opera singer Galina Vishnevskaya, actors Mark Zakharov and Vladimir Zeldin, ballerina Maya Plisetskaya, sculptor Zurab Tsereteli. Among politicians, full cavaliers are: one of the first heads of the Russian government Viktor Chernomyrdin, ex-president of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, head of the Russian presidential administration Sergei Ivanov, chairman of the council Directors of "Gazprom" Viktor Zubkov, as well as the head of the FSB Alexander Bortnikov.
However, it is much more interesting to see who was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, I degree. Among them you can see ex-president of France Jacques Chirac (awarded in 1997), Boris Yeltsin (in 2001), Patriarch Alexy II (in 2004), ex-president of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma (in 2004), former head of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov (in 2006), ex-President of Bashkortostan Murtaza Rakhimov. Among famous artists, one of the highest state awards is given to: singer and deputy Iosif Kobzon, head of the Moscow Art Theater Oleg Tabakov, composer Alexandra Pakhmutova, actress Elina Bystritskaya. Twenty days before her death, the outstanding singer Lyudmila Zykina was presented for the award.
In May 2014, after the well-known events regarding the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia, Vladimir Konstantinov, Chairman of the State Council of Crimea, former Acting President, were presented for the award. about. governorSevastopol, Chairman of the City Legislative Assembly Alexei Chaly and Head of Crimea Sergei Aksenov.
