Putin presents highest state award to Belarusian president

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko and later awarded him the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Russia's highest state award.

The ceremony was held in the Kremlin's St. Andrew’s Hall on 9th October. Putin signed a decree on awarding the order to Lukashenko on August 30. The decree states that he was awarded for his outstanding achievements in developing allied relations and strategic partnership and strengthening friendship between the two fraternal nations, as well as for his personal contribution to the effective operation of the two countries.