Russian Women and Men Celebrate Russia Day by Honoring Russian Achievements

President Vladimir Putin honored both moral values and military power Tuesday during the Russia Day festivities. Russians as diverse as Alexander Solzhenitsyn to the men that designed nuclear-armed submarines were recognized at the State Prize ceremony in the Kremlin Tuesday.

Russia Day was originally a holiday created to celebrate the country’s emergence from the Soviet Union and has since developed into a celebration of Russia itself. President Putin used the opportunity to talk about Russian achievements and ask for unity in the country as his reign of leadership comes to an end.

Solzhenitsyn received recognition for his documentation of the Soviet prison camp system in the way of a State Prize for his humanitarian activity. His wife, Natalya, accepted the award for him, but Putin also paid a visit to the Nobel Prize winning writer at his home in Troitse-Lykovo to thank him personally for his work for the good of the country.

Putin also praised Russia and it’s military development with 5 of the 12 State Prizes going to honor work done to strengthen the military. Five developers of the Iskander-M cruise missile system were given anonymous awards since their identities are considered to be a state secret.

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