Two ex-Presidents among recipients of Russian Federation awards

Former Presidents Guido de Marco and Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg and MEP Simon Busuttil have been presented with the Peter the Great medal, a diplomatic award by the National Committee for Public Awards of the Russian Federation.

The decorations were awarded as part of celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Maltese-Russian relations.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Alex Sceberras Trigona was awarded the Gorchakov Insignia, the highest Russian diplomatic award.

The editor of The Sunday Times Laurence Grech, Police Commissioner John Rizzo and Brigadier Carmel Vassallo were also awarded decorations.

Medals were awarded to Nadur mayor Chris Said, Fr Marius Zerafa, Victor Ragonesi, Alfred Pisani, Maurice Lubrano and the late Paul Naudi.