OREANDA-NEWS. August 01, 2011. Shafagat Takhautdinov, General Director of TATNEFT was awarded the IIIrd Degree Order of Merit for the Motherland for his great contribution to the development of the oil industry, his labor achievements and many years of diligent work. Sh Takhautdinov was awarded the IVth Degree Order of Merit for the Motherland in 2006, reported the press-centre of TATNEFT.

The solemn ceremony of presenting state awards was held in the Kremlin. The orders, medals and diplomas of honorary titles conferment were awarded to four dozens of prominent Russian citizens by Dmitry Medvedev, President of Russia. Among the persons awarded on that day there were Vitaly Ignatenko, General Director of ITAR-TASS, Oscar Feltsman, composer, Nikolay Brunich CEO of "Zarubezhneft", artists Anastasia Vertinskaya, Anatoly Kuznetsov and others. The Order of Merit for the Motherland was also awarded to Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Deputy Speaker of the Russian State Duma, Mikhail Kovalchuk, Director of Kurchatov Institute and Vera Vasilyeva, popular stage and film actress.

In the closing remarks President Dmitry Medvedev warmly congratulated the recipients and wished them good health, success in their work and again and again to be in the St. George Hall of the Moscow Kremlin, which hosted the ceremony.

Information Reference
The Order "Merit for the Motherland" is conferred to individuals for particularly outstanding achievements related to the strengthening of the Russian statehood, social and economic development of the country's scientific and research activities, development of culture and arts, high achievements in sports and strengthening of peace, friendship and cooperation between people and for significant contribution to strengthening national defense.

The number of the IIIrd Degree Order of Merit for the Motherland cavaliers is just over 600 persons. Among them there are Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, Academician Mikhail Zalikhanov, Peter Klimuk, Colonel-General, Cosmonaut, Mikhail Ulyanov, People's Artist of the USSR, and other honored citizens of our country.