Russia awarded Friday its highest state honor to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting bilateral special and privileged strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and Republic of India.

A Russian government statement said Modi was decorated with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle and it was extended on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Modi and Putin shares a strong chemistry and both the leaders had met on several occasions in past five years to promote defence and economic partnership.

The Order of St Andrew the Apostle award is given to prominent statesmen and public figures and the other awardees include President of China Xi Jinping, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Geydar Aliev.

On 28 March 2019 Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Valentina Matvienko, too was decorated with the award.

Tsar Peter the Great established the Order in 1696 in honor of Saint Andrew, who was the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia.

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