© TwitterModi was presented with the 'Order of St Andrew the Apostle'
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (Jul 9) was presented with the 'Order of St Andrew the Apostle' by Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The highest order of chivalry in Russia was bestowed on him in the year 2019 at St Catherine's Hall of the Moscow Kremlin.
Comment: Notably this occurs after the bombing in Ukraine, in which the West and the Kiev-junta accuse Russia of targeting a children's hospital, that just so happened to occur prior to a NATO meeting; evidently PM Modi saw no reason to defer the ceremony.
PM Modi received the award for "his distinguished contribution to the development of a privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly ties between the two countries".
Later in his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "...I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you (President Putin) for honouring me with Russia's highest (civilian) award. This honour is not just mine, this is the honour of 140 crore Indians. This is the honour of the centuries-old deep friendship and mutual trust between India and Russia. This is the honour of our special and privileged strategic partnership...In the past 2.5 decades, under your leadership, India-Russia relations have strengthened in all directions and have scaled new heights each time. The foundation of strategic ties between the two nations that you had laid has only further strengthened with the passing of time. Our mutual cooperation, based on people-to-partnership, is becoming the hope and guarantee of a better future of our people..."
More about the award
The 'Order of St Andrew the Apostle' was established by Tsar Peter the Great in 1698 in honour of Saint Andrew. The order was initially meant to recognise the efforts of individuals towards the betterment of the state and their outstanding civilian and military service.
The honour was scrapped following the Russian Revolution of 1917 but was reinstated in the post-Soviet era and continues to date.
In Russia, the award is considered as a prestige and a symbol of high honour.
Modi was originally decorated with the award in 2019 when he visited Russia to attend a a forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok.
The two leaders then met in September 2022 at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Uzbekistan.
During his current visit, PM Modi will also lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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