Dmitry Medvedev presented state decorations and certificates conferring honorary titles to outstanding Russians, the Kremlin press service reports. Among those who received orders and medals are art workers, academic figures, doctors, workers and farmers. The Order for Service to the Fatherland of the First Degree went to Yuri Grigorovich, balletmaster of the Bolshoi Theater. The Order for Service to the Fatherland of the Second Degree went to Professor Ghennady Rozhdestvensky of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

Theater Director Lev Durov, President of the Russian Academy of Education Nikolai Nikandrov and Director of the Institute of Global History Aleksandr Chubarian received Orders for Service to the Fatherland of the Third Degree.

Actor and Artistic Director of the Theater of Nations Yevgeny Mironov was among the Russians receiving the Medal of Honor. Jazz musician Igor Butman and ballerina Nataliya Balakhnicheva received the title of People's Artist of Russia.