Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree awarding the Order of Friendship to Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, the head of Tajikistan’s upper house (Majlisi Milli) of parliament.
Ubaidulloyev was reportedly awarded the order for his personal contribution to establishment of ties between the regions of the two countries.
Mrs. Valentina Matviyenko, chairperson of Russia’s upper chamber (Federation Council) of parliament, bestowed the order on Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev in Dushanbe on October 13 on the sidelines of the fifth inter-parliamentary forum entitled “Tajikistan-Russia: Potential of Inter-Region Cooperation.”
Mrs. Matviyenko was in Dushanbe on a two-day official visit on October 12-13. While in Dushanbe, she held talks with Tajik president and heads of both houses of Tajik parliament.
The Order of Friendship is a state decoration of the Russian Federation established by presidential decree 442 of March 2, 1994 to reward foreign nationals whose work, deeds and efforts were aimed at the betterment of relations with the Russian Federation and its people. Its statute was later amended by presidential decree 19 of January 6, 1999, presidential decree 1099 of September 7, 2010, presidential decree 1631 of December 16, 2011, and presidential decree 308 of March 16, 2012. It can trace its lineage to the Soviet Order of Friendship of Peoples.
The Order of Friendship is awarded to Russian and foreign nationals for special merit in strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and understanding between nations, for fruitful work on the convergence and mutual enrichment of cultures of nations and peoples; for the active conservation, development and promotion of the cultural and historical heritage of Russia; for great contribution to the implementation of joint ventures with the Russian Federation, major economic projects and attracting investments into the economy of the Russian Federation; for broad charitable activities.
