DUSHANBE, December 18, 2009, Asia-Plus — An identified person has stolen the “Hammer and Sickle” gold medal of a labor veteran from Khatlon’s Yovon district.
The source at the criminal investigation squad within the Yovon police department told Asia-Plus that they received application of the 70-year-old resident of the village of Parchasoy in Yovon, Hero of Socialist Labor Tourakhon Toshev, over theft of his “Hammer and Sickle” gold medal.
According to the application, a person who introduced himself as an employee of president’s executive office visited Toshev in early November and asked to show him orders and medals Toshev was awarded for his labor. “He looked through the decorations and gave them back to their holders; however, Toshev missed his “Hammer and Sickle” gold medal,” the source said.
Criminal proceedings have been instituted and an investigation is under way.
Hero of Socialist Labor was an honorary title in the Soviet and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture. It provided a similar status to the title Hero of the Soviet Union that was awarded for heroic deeds, but unlike the latter, was not awarded to foreign citizens.
The title was introduced by the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union on December 27, 1938. It was awarded by the Presidium to citizens who contributed to the development of the Soviet industry, agriculture, transportation, trade, science and technology and promoted the might and the glory of the Soviet Union.
At first, Heroes of Socialist Labor were awarded the highest decoration of the Soviet Union – the Order of Lenin – and a certificate from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. To distinguish the Heroes from other Order of Lenin recipients, the “Hammer and Sickle” gold medal was alter introduced by decree of the Presidium on May 22, 1940, to accompany the Order of Lenin and the certificate. Like the HSU Gold Star Medal, this medal is always worn in full.
