The ceremony for presenting state decorations to prominent Russian citizens took place at the Kremlin.

Among the awardees was also the legendary Russian-Armenian scientist and polar explorer, State Duma deputy Artur Chilingarov, to whom Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the II degree Order of Merit for Homeland, reports the Kremlin official website.

"Thank you for your support," Chilingarov said at the awards ceremony. “I remain an active polar explorer, and in the future we will do our best for Russia to become a major Arctic sea state. Thank you for your trust."