Order of Friendship

The Order of Friendship is a state decoration of the Russian Federation established by Boris Yeltsin by presidential decree 442 of March 2, 1994 to reward foreign nationals whose work, deeds and efforts have been 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 1999 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.