The Russian Federation President Dmitriy Medvedev gave state awards to the representatives of the Russian scientific, cultural, artistic, and business communities. The ceremony took place in the Kremlin’s Yekaterininskiy Hall.

The former Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Eduard Rossel was given the Order of Merit for the Motherland, 1st degree; opera singer Elena Obraztsova was given the Order of Merit for the Motherland, 2nd degree, the director of the Hermitage Museum Mikhail Piotrovskiy was given the Order of Merit for the Motherland, 3d degree, theatre and movie actor Mikhail Boyarskiy and Chairman of Artem Borovik Charity Fund Genrikh Borovik were given the Order of Merit for the Motherland, 4th degree, RIA Novosti reports.

Eduard Rossel is now Russia’s fourth citizen to receive the Order of Merit for the Motherland of all the four degrees.