YEREVAN, OCOTBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Radik Martirosian, the Chairman of the RA National Academy of Sciences, Yervand Zakharian, the Mayor of Yerevan, and Vladimir Msrian, an RA People's artist, have been awarded orders of the Saint Patersburg International Fund for Expansion of Social Encouragements and Initiatives under the RF President's staff. According to the information provided by Nikolay Milochenko, the Chairman of the Fund, at the press conference held in the "Tesaket" club on October 12, representatives of more than 20 countries have been decorated with these awards. Alexandre Grigorian, an RA People's artist, as well was awarded the order of the fund in 2006. In the words of Nikolay Milochenko, the aim of the fund, which was created four years ago, is to bring the culture and science, which are currently in a sorry plight, out of this difficult situation, as well as to support the specialists of that sphere. He mentioned that the fund operates in Russia, has its representations in Armenia, Bulgaria , and Kazakhstan and envisages to open new representations in France, Czechia, and Germany. Vladimir Msrian declared that it is a great honor for him to be decorated with such an order. "I was awarded all my titles and prizes in the Soviet years and I am deeply touched that I am decorated with such a high award on the eve of my 70th anniversary," the artist mentioned. In the opinion of Vladimir Msrian, he has been awarded this order also for the "Nikolo Paganini" film , which was shot in Saint Petersburg in 1981.

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