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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

Friends,

Today is Russia Day, the day of our Motherland. This great word and notion entices deepest, inmost sentiments, brings forth warmth and love in our hearts and inspires us to noble deeds and achievements, creation and victories.

I sincerely extend my best wishes to you on this holiday which embodies the powerful and uninterrupted journey of the Russian state for over a thousand years, as well as its history and culture, its uniquely abundant nature, and the diversity and authenticity of its numerous regions. It represents the common destiny of our multi-ethnic nation, the merits of all generations to the Fatherland, and their loyalty to the traditions of unity both in combat and at work.

This integrity in our perception of Russia is our common and most important achievement, and a caring and filial attitude and sincere devotion to the Fatherland strengthen its power, independence, and sovereignty.

Importantly, as we are celebrating the holiday and at the same time responding to complicated challenges and defending the truth and justice, upholding our traditional values, we are thinking about the future, firmly setting ambitious development goals, moving forward step by step and reaching new heights. We are building up Russia’s industrial, technological and scientific strength.

I should note in this regard that fundamental research is being co-funded, alongside the government, by our leading companies including as part of the new annual grant competition named in honour of Academician Velikhov, a great son of the Fatherland, thinker and science enthusiast. On this occasion, I would like to wish success to the first winners of the competition.

Friends,

Our ceremony is traditionally held solemnly, with great respect for all award winners.

You affirm the importance of education, culture, enlightenment, scientific and creative search with your work, knowledge, talent and spiritual generosity. Your brilliant achievements have brought great benefits to the Fatherland. Let me extend my heartfelt congratulations. To start, as it is common in such cases, I will name those who have been awarded the title of Hero of Labour.

Physicist Yury Dikov devoted his life to strengthening our country's nuclear shield. He has been working at the Snezhinsk Nuclear Centre for 65 years. Many equipment units exceptionally important for ensuring security of the country have been designed under his leadership.

Outstanding composer and arranger Alexander Zatsepin went through the same fruitful path. It is impossible to imagine our cinema and many of our favourite films without the music of this wonderful composer. His legendary songs still sound modern today, being sung by people of different generations, and the maestro continues to give us wonderful melodies.

Vyacheslav Zintsov, an electric fitter, has been working at the Tver Carriage Works for more than fifty years. A true master of his craft, he has always been engaged in most responsible areas. His authority is indisputable, including among young people. He passed on his knowledge and skills to dozens of apprentices.

Sultangirei Kostoyev, a tractor driver from Ingushetia, is also an example for his colleagues. Thanks to his hard work and leadership, many effective practices have been introduced and crop yields have increased.

Alexander Prokhanov, a writer and editor–in-chief of the newspaper Zavtra [Tomorrow], is another Hero of Labour. His books, articles, and public appearances are always filled with concern for the Fatherland and a desire to unite society around values of patriotism.

The title of Hero of Labour of Russia was awarded to Nellya Yakunenko, head physician of the legendary Gorlovka hospital. For a long time, she worked under the blockade and incessant shelling of Donbass and became a symbol of salvation, mercy and hope for thousands of people. Her professionalism, fortitude and humane attitude invoke great respect.

Friends,

Contributions by scientists solving the challenges of scientific and technological leadership are as important for our country’s progress as those by thinkers, enthusiasts and creators who reveal our cultural authenticity, preserve historical memory, our identity and value sovereignty.

The founder of the new direction in science and one of the most highly cited scientists in applied mathematics, Nikolai Kuznetsov, became a National Award winner in science and technology.

His theory of hidden oscillations allowed for advances in solving a number of fundamental tasks. It is much needed in preventing manmade disasters, increased reliability of oil rigs and steam turbines, and is being widely used in military industries as well.

The award laureate title goes to Nikolai Makarov who made a tremendous contribution to the study of historical processes in the evolution of the Russian state. His archaeological studies of the Russian North, the Suzdal land and the Moscow Kremlin convincingly show a civilizational identity of the Old Russian culture and establish its prominence in world history.

I am happy to introduce one of the youngest National Award laureates, Maxim Nikitin. Thanks to his talent and research zeal, he made a true breakthrough in biology – he discovered a previously unknown mechanism of storing information in the DNA which may be key in revealing causes of most complicated diseases and, consequently, in preventing them.

The national award for outstanding achievements in humanitarian activity was awarded to the member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Chubaryan. A great expert in history of international relations, he did a great deal to strengthen cooperation and contacts between scientists of different countries.

Alexander Chubaryan calls his work very precisely – scientific diplomacy. His long years of research, public and educational efforts on consolidating schools of history of the Commonwealth of Independent States command special respect.

Academician Chubaryan’s multifaceted activity, including in writing a single history textbook for schools, is a paragon of scientist’s service to humanity for the sake of education, for the sake of truth-seeking.

Friends, I am glad to introduce the laureates of the National Award in literature and the arts.

Yury Polyakov’s works have been translated into many foreign languages and included in the school educational programmes. A man with an active civic stance, member of the Board of the Russian Union of Writers, he is among the most famous writers in our country.

Director of the Polenov State Folk Arts and Crafts Centre Tamara Purtova made an exclusive contribution to the preservation of national heritage. It is largely thanks to her efforts that our traditional art is being revived, developing and taking its proper place in the life of the Russian society whereas the Folk Arts and Crafts Centre has turned into a true flagship of promoting folklore and ethnography.

Heads of the Moscow State Academic Philharmonic were honoured with the National Award. Its General Director Alexei Shalashov created a new wonderful world–class concert complex in southwestern Moscow a few years ago.

His other achievement is the creation of the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra, a common dream and the result of a joint, tireless work with the artistic director of the Moscow Philharmonic Alexander Chaikovsky. A real constellation of classical music talents has already been discovered here.

Mr Chaikovsky heads the Union of Composers of Russia, successfully combining fruitful creative and pedagogical activities.

Life and fate of every Hero of Labour and winner of the National Award is an example of how to become a worthy and highly-demanded individual, how to earn, among other things, respect and admiration for one’s generosity, selflessness and mercy in society.

Georgy Stolyarenko received the National Award for achievements in charity work. A renowned physician, he has developed devices for the effective treatment of retinal pathologies. He has been supporting his Donetsk colleagues for many years. He has retrofitted a trauma centre in the Donetsk People's Republic using with his own funds; in his Moscow clinic he performs free surgeries for children of Donbass and participants in the special military operation. More than once, being guided by his professional and human qualities and his duty, he helped preserve vision of those injured as a result of terrorist attacks.

Natalia Karpovich, head of the Association of Large Families of Moscow, received the award in the field of human rights. Protecting the interests of family and children is the meaning of Natalia Karpovich's life. During her tenure as a State Duma deputy, she initiated many legislative proposals in this area, which have been adopted and are already in effect.

Recently, we honoured large families, awarded women with an honorary title of Mother Heroine, and many thanked me for reviving this title in Russia. I told everyone, ”Good, thank you very much.“ But it was Natalia Karpovich who initiated the revival of this title – Mother Heroine, this is her merit. I remember how three years ago she expressed this idea at a meeting of the State Council. Thank you for your perseverance and ability to achieve your goals for the sake of people and their welfare.

Friends,

Each and every one of you is a huge, gifted, unique personality. Everyone has reached the top in their profession, vocation, fulfilment of their talents and abilities. But all of you are united by the desire to work selflessly, to achieve benefits for people and our Fatherland.

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and thank you for your service to Russia.

Thank you very much.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,

In conclusion, I would take the liberty to follow up on what has just been said by some of the speakers and laureates.

For instance, excavation works in Novgorod were mentioned. I visited both Novgorod and the Ladoga area. The material culture items precisely and reliably tell us that Russia was emerging as a multi-ethnic state from the outset, from its first steps. The ethnicities in northwestern Russia lived in harmony and concord with each other and tackled together issues and challenges they faced, and the material culture items confirm that.

Our country, our huge ship of a state, had its sails filled with inspiration that was also mentioned here. And it was moving forward strengthening its statehood, its values that have become traditional in over a thousand years, enhancing science, education and defence, creating its nuclear shield.

All that testifies to the fact that all of our people, the multi-ethnic people of Russia, have always been inspired by common interests, by the country’s interests. Today’s Heroes of Labour and laureates are exactly the ones who have always led the way, carrying thousands and millions of people along.

I would like to once again express gratitude to you for your selfless labour and wish you new achievements and successes.

Happy holiday, happy Russia Day!