Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko presented state awards to civil servants, performers and journalists at a presidential reception in the run-up to the Orthodox New Year on 11 January, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko presented the Order of Honor to Chairman of the State Control Committee Leonid Anfimov, Chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee Anatoly Lis, Minsk Mayor Anatoly Sivak. The Medal of Francysk Skaryna was presented to actress of the Yanka Kupala National Academic Drama Theater Valentina Gartsuyeva.

The Honored Artist of Belarus title was given to actress of the Yanka Kupala National Academic Drama Theater Yuliya Shpilevskaya. State awards were presented in recognition of many-year productive work in government bodies, professional excellence, a big personal contrition to the development and promotion of Belarusian dramatic art.

Mass media representatives received letters of commendation from the Belarus president in recognition of professional excellence, a big personal contrition to the development of the state information policy. BelTA Deputy Director General Sergei Aderikho was among the awardees.