Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, the nation’s highest state award, to his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

The ceremony was held in the Kremlin’s St. Andrew’s Hall.

Putin signed a decree on awarding the order to Lukashenko on August 30, 2024, when the Belarusian leader turned 70.

The decree states that he was awarded for his outstanding achievements in developing allied relations and strategic partnership between the two countries and strengthening friendship between the two fraternal nations, as well as for his personal contribution to the effective operation of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.

As he accepted the state award, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko asserted that the union of Belarus and Russia is leading the struggle for a fair world.

“Our unique integration association that we are building together, the Union State, is successfully developing. Today, we are fighting together for a just world. And the union of Belarus and Russia is at the forefront of this fierce and formidable struggle.

“There is no alternative to such a course amid the tense, escalating international situation. At the same time, the Union State may well become a model of new equal relations.”
Alexander Lukashenko

After the October Revolution, the order was abolished as all other awards of the Russian Empire. In 1998, by decree of the Russian President, it was re-established as the highest state award.

The order is given to prominent government and public figures and other citizens of the Russian Federation for “exceptional services to the prosperity, greatness and glory of Russia.” It may also be presented to heads of foreign states.

A total of 26 people have been awarded the Order since 1998, including China’s President Xi Jinping, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the former leaders Heydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan.

Russian-Belarusian talks took place before the award ceremony.

During the talks, Putin stated that trade and economic ties between Russia and Belarus are developing in the best possible way.

According to the Russian side, the trade between the countries is $46.5 billion. Belarus and Russia continue to develop cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing sector, including microelectronics.

Russia More Than A Neighboring State

After he received the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle from Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko asserted that Russia has always been more than a neighboring state for Belarus.

He noted that there are close ties between the people of Belarus and Russia and special, personal relations between the two Presidents. “I am really glad that we have reached such a level in our relations,” the Belarusian leader said.

Lukashenko thanked Putin for the award, stating that she considers it as a recognition of the “merits of the Belarusian people, consistently strengthening the unity with brotherly Russia.”

Also, he stated that Belarus has been repeatedly faced with choices regarding its interaction and cooperation with Russia, but the republic has never turned its back on its ally.

He noted that Belarusians see and appreciate the support provided by Russia and its leadership and assured that Belarus is a reliable ally.

“I want Russia to know that Belarusians have never let Russians down. Please accept my assurances: we will never let you down in the future. God has decided that we share both successes and difficulties in a brotherly way.”
Alexander Lukashenko

The Belarusian Head of state noted that Belarus and Russia are developing their unique integration union.

According to him, there is no alternative to such a policy amid the aggravated and escalating international situation.