21 November 2019, the Director-General of the Moscow Kremlin Museums Elena Gagarina was awarded the Order ‘For Merit to the Fatherland’ fourth class. The solemn ceremony took place in St Catherine’s Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, where the President of Russia awarded the orders and medals for significant achievements in the spheres of culture, medicine, sports and production.
“It's satisfactory for me today to receive this prestigious award from your hands. It’s a pity, I’ve never had a chance to say that I’m thankful for been given credence in keeping the State regalia and the symbols of power of our great country,” said Elena Gagarina at the awarding ceremony.
The President heartedly congratulated the audience with high appreciation on behalf of the state and wished everyone further success, new achievements and victories.
Elena Gagarina has been heading the Moscow Kremlin Museums for 18 years. Each year the Museums organizes large-scale exhibition projects in Russia and beyond, leads an active restoration, scientific, publishing and researching life. During this time, dozens of art pieces have been conserved, as well as the exhibition halls in the Patriarch’s Palace and Assumption Cathedral, Kremlin cathedrals and the ‘Ivan the Great’ Bell Tower have been restored.