Russia's Ambassador to Libya Ivan Molotkov and head of the Supreme Court Vyacheslav Lebedev were among the more than 40 people awarded with state honors by President Vladimir Putin at a Kremlin ceremony.
The awards were given to recipients from a range of professions and disciplines, including? art,? business and agriculture.
The highest award, the title of? Hero of the Russian Federation, was bestowed on cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Anton Shkaplerov for their prolonged flight on board the International Space Station.
Ivan Molotkov received the Order of Courage for his brave conduct and high professionalism in the aftermath of an attack on the Russian Embassy in Tripoli in early October.
Vyacheslav Lebedev was awarded with the Order For Service to the Fatherland for his contribution to judicial reform in Russia.
Among the well-known recipients were poet Andrei Dementyev and film director Alexei Uchitel, who were bestowed with the Order of Honor. Actors Vasily Lanovoi and Andrei Myagkov received the Order of Alexander Nevsky and the Order of Friendship, respectively, for their artistic accomplishments.
Marat Khusnullin, head of Moscow government's municipal construction department, was awarded the? title of Honored Construction Worker for his successful work on Moscow's urban development projects.
President Putin congratulated all the award recipients at a ceremony held at the Kremlin on Wednesday and wished them new success in the coming year.