Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ceremoniously awarded the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia’s highest civilian honour, at St Catherine’s Hall of the Moscow Kremlin on Tuesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin conferred the prestigious award upon Modi for his exceptional contributions to fostering a privileged strategic partnership and strengthening friendly ties between Russia and Bharat.
Expressing his gratitude during the felicitation ceremony, PM Modi dedicated the honour to the people of Bharat, asserting on the significance of the recognition in illuminating the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two nations.
“I am heartily grateful to you for conferring me with the highest civilian honour of Russia. This honour is not just mine; it is an honour of 140 crore Indians and a testament to the centuries-old deep friendship and mutual trust between India and Russia,” Modi remarked.
Honoured to receive the The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle. I thank the Russian Government for conferring the award.
This award is dedicated to my fellow 140 crore Indians. pic.twitter.com/hOHGDMSGC6
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2024
He further praised the strengthening of Bharat-Russia relations under President Putin’s leadership, highlighting the enhanced strategic ties and mutual cooperation that benefit both countries’ futures.
PM Modi shared his gratitude on X, stating, “Honoured to receive the Order of St Andrew the Apostle. I dedicate it to the people of Bharat.”
President Putin congratulated PM Modi, wishing him good health and continued success. The Order of St Andrew the Apostle, established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia, is awarded for extraordinary civilian or military merit.
The historic Grand Hall of the Order of Saint Andrew, which has hosted ceremonial events for centuries, served as the venue for the prestigious award ceremony.
The Russian Embassy in Bharat had posted in 2019 about the award, recognising PM Modi’s exceptional services in promoting the special strategic partnership and friendly relations between the Russian and Indian peoples.
