Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with the Order of Alexander Nevsky for his great services in strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

The decree was published on the official Internet portal of legal information of the Russian Federation.

“For great merits in strengthening friendship and cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, shall be awarded with the Order of Alexander Nevsky,” the portal said.

The Alexander Nevsky Order is the only award that existed (with certain changes) in the award systems of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation.

The Order is awarded to citizens of the Russian Federation who are or were in the public service - for fruitful work in the field of state building, military and civil industry, science, culture, health care, for increasing the economic power, international prestige and the country's defense capability. The Order of Alexander Nevsky, as a rule, is awarded to those citizens who have previously received any order of the Russian Federation. Civil servants are awarded the order, provided that their work experience is 20 years or more.

The order can also be awarded to foreign citizens for outstanding services in establishing economic, political, cultural, military ties between Russia and other countries.

As of 2015, there were more than 100 holders of the Order of Alexander Nevsky. These are political leaders, workers of culture and creativity, scientists and popular public figures.

Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Fortov, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, writer Valentin Rasputin, Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko, actor, artistic director of the Boris Schukin Theater Institute Vladimir Etush, rector of Moscow State University .AT. Lomonosov Victor Sadovnichy, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.