Megan

Oooh! Interesting information, thank you folks! Owain, Savoy - you know what I'm going to ask... please, may I have permission to use your images on my website? With due acknowledgement, of course.

My pleasure! To my delight, today I received permission from the Lithuanian Mint to use their pictures of the State Awards which they manufacture. So without further ado, the Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great: - Badge: Star: This shows the white ribbon with orange edge stripes of the Order, and the Star as being similar to the one already shown but with a blue-enamelled centre and being silver rather than gold.

That's nice, it's a fine site and a good reference for Portugeuse ODM - thanks for sharing. If anyone has any images I can use on my site, I'd be very grateful, she says hopefully...

Be glad to, Frank, it's here: http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter2/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=241854 - this is their official English translation!

Having just been reading the Law on State Awards of 18 June 2002 (which the Lithuanian government has obligingly posted online for the delight of the likes of me!), I've settled down to having a look at the ODM of the modern Republic of Lithuania post 1991. The highest award is the Order of Vytautas the Great. Harking back to the original, instituted on 1 September 1930 as the premier award of the first republic (1918-1940), it was re-instituted on 12 September 1991. At first it had but a single class - which wore the badge on a sash, with a star and a collar - but it has subsequently expanded to a five-class order, with a special class - the Order of Vytautas the Great with Golden Chain - and an associated Medal. Being so recent, pictures are hard to come by... but here's the Order of Vytautas the Great with Golden Chain! The Chain itself consists of links decorated with motifs of the double cross and of the letter V, with the cross of the Order suspended from it. This cross is white-enamelled gold, 50mm long, with a stylised horseman on a red shield (obverse) with a crown above. The reverse has a red shield with the letter V and has the dates of Vytautas the Great's rule (1392-1430) on the arms of the cross. It's suspended from a royal crown with three crystal stones. Here it is: The star for this class is gold with nine rays, 85mm in diameter. In the centre, which is red, there is a white cross of the order with a crown above.

Fascinating... the most recent revision is actually by a law of 2 March 2011, which the Portuguese have kindly placed online - http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=163 (very nice for the likes of me!) - here the Ordem do Mérito Empresarial is to be awarded for services to agriculture, commerce & tourism or industry in 5 classes, distinguished by green (agriculture), blue (commerce & tourism) or red (industry) and by the wording on the circlet around the central badge, Eeep, I can see an update to my site coming along, this is quite interesting and I haven't done much on Portugal yet!

Wonderful picture, Chris... so many courageous folk! Sadly the 2 VC recipients I've met are no longer with us - both WW2 awards, Tasker Watkins & Peter Wright. The odd thing is, I bumped into both when they were wearing their medals... Tasker Watkins at a formal service for the Welsh legal community, in judge's robes; and Peter Wright had been attending a service in the Guards Chapel & I'd been in the Guards Museum across the square. Both charming gents. Who else has met a VC or GC recipient?

Hmm... now found the Medal for Participation in Countering Aggression in South Ossetia, which appears to be an award of South Ossetia. Of course, Abkhanians might have received it, but I don't think it belongs here!

I have found a few other medals online which appear to be Abkhazian, but as of yet do not have pictures that I can use - found them on a Russian sales site Still, I shall share what I have about them. Medal for Military Cooperation - ribbon half orange with black edges, half green/white/red - obverse shows a handshake over crossed swords with a star above, reverse shows the arms of Abkhazia Cross for Aid (or Help?) to Abkhazia - ribbon green with narrow black & white edge stripes - a white-enamelled cross with crossed swords between the arms, the obverse showing an eagle (bit like the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence badge) with the Abkhazian and Russian Federation flags enamelled in colour behind it, reverse plain metal Medal for the Ministry of Defence of Abkhazia - ribbon orange with a narrow white central stripe and narrow black edges (the same as the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence Medal for Distinction in Combat) - obverse shows crossed swords below a star, reverse is the arms of Abkhazia Medal of the Peacekeeping Mission in Abkhazia - ribbon black with 2 green stripes and narrow white edges - obverse shows a soldier in a helmet with his rifle slung over his shoulder looking at a palm tree beside water with a mountain range in the distance, reverse is the arms of Abkhazia In the same section on this site there were 2 medals relating to South Ossetia. These might have been awarded by Abkhazia or to Abkhazians who helped fight in the South Ossetian cause. Medal for Participation in Countering Aggression in South Ossetia - ribbon blue with a central white (or grey?) stripe - obverse is either mountains or a stylised map framed by 2 sprigs of laurel with the date 2008 below, reverse shows text reading 'For Participation in Countering Aggression in South Ossetia' Cross for Aid to South Ossetia - ribbon 3 equal stripes of white, red and yellow - white enamelled cross with crossed swords between the arms, obverse shows an eagle like the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence one with coloured flags of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation behind it, the reverse is blank Naturally, I am still ferreting around, but would appreciate any help that I can get! Image credits for this thread so far are mostly Frank Dutil and Yuri Yashnev.

The last Abkhazian medal that I at least have a picture of is the Ministry of Internal Affairs Medal "For Valour in Service." I have not yet found out anything about it, though, but here's the picture:

Likewise I have found a medal 'For the Liberation of Kodor' - trouble is, Kodor doesn't appear on any map! There is a Kodor River in Abkhazia, so it may refer to that area or a settlement therein. No other details are as yet known, but here it is: -

So they've stuck to the same atrocious design! Gack, hoped they would take the opportunity to retool to something more appropriate.

Seems reasonable to me, the reward for winning an Olympic final is, er, a gold Olympic medal, isn't it? Those who use the fame and their talents to the good of their sport or society in general are the ones who should be considered for inclusion in the Honours List.

The need for peacekeepers lasted a fair while, as in 2004 a Medal for 10 Years of the Peacekeeping Mission in Abkhazia was issued. Again I have no further details (yet), but here it is: -

I would love to have information and images of them for my website... :)

Next the Medal "For Maintaining Peace in Abkhazia" Little is known of this medal: it is believed to have been awarded to Russian Federation troops serving on peacekeeping duties in the region. There are indications that it may also have been awarded to Abkhazians involved in military action in support of claims for independence. The obverse bears the words FOR MAINTAINING PEACE IN ABKHAZIA above a mountain range and the reverse shows the National Arms over a wreath. The ribbon is dark blue with double narrow yellow central stripes, and red and yellow edges. Again I'm searching for more details: date of institution, terms of award, Abkhazian name, etc.

And the Third Class (10 Years): I do not yet know when this award was instituted, nor its name in Abkhazian... or the precise details of the design above what I can see.

Next up, the Medal for Distinction in Military Service Few details have yet been found, but this appears to be the military long service and good conduct award, which comes in three classes. The obverse shows the National Arms with a wreath below, whilst the reverse shows a trophy of arms upon which a shield displays a Roman numeral indicating which class the medal is. The ribbon is red with narrow yellow edges and one, two or three central narrow green stripes – the same pattern as was used in the Russian Federation for the equivalent medal 1995-2009. First Class (20 Years): Second Class (15 Years):

There is also a Medal for Bravery. This was instituted on 4 December 1992 for personal courage and bravery shown in battle against the enemies of the Republic of Abkhazia or in protecting the state border of the Republic of Abkhazia and for the performance of military duty under conditions involving a risk to life. It is a bronze medal, 32mm in diameter. The obverse shows a horseman with a bow in his outstretched hand, and the reverse bears the word BRAVERY in Abkhazian and FOR BRAVERY in Russian in two horizontal rows. The ribbon is three equal stripes of red, white and green.

As far as I can tell, next in the order of precedence comes the Order of Courage, which was instituted in 2007 to mark acts of bravery, selflessness and courage, and other services, in the performace of military duty; and by Interior Ministry officials and customs officers. No other information has been found (yet!).

The Order of Leon was instituted on 4 December 1992 in a single class to recognise acts of bravery and selfless courage prefromed by citizens of Abkhazia or foreigners in the interests of the Republic. The insignia consists of a breast badge in the shape of a convex diamond made up of rays diverging from the centre. In the centre there is a gold depiction of King Leon mounted on a horse, hand upraised, surrounded by a red-enamelled circle bearing the word LEON above bronze laurels. Behind the badge are two crossed swords, hilts downward. Early examples had the hilts at the top but this was amended in accord with heraldic principles of indicating victory. The width of the badge is 85mm at its widest point. The reverse is plain, with a threaded stud and nut for affixing it to the clothing. The insignia was designed by Valery Gamgia. The Order does not appear to have a ribbon associated with it.

And now the third class (which unlike the other two, is a breast badge rather than one worn around the neck): Finally, the third class with swords:

Now, the second class with swords:

Next up, the the Order of Honour and Glory, which was instituted on 10 January 2002, and is the highest Abkhazian Order. It is awarded in three classes to citizens of Abkhazia for outstanding services to the Republic, and may also be awarded to foreigners. A military unit or ship that particularly distinguishes itself may be awarded the distinction in a streamer of the colours of the order’s ribbon: red with narrow white edge stripes. The first and second classes are worn as neck badges, whilst the third class is worn as a breast badge taking precedence over all other Abkhazian or foreign awards held. The badge of the order consists of an eight-pointed star in the shape of a solar symbol, being 45mm wide. In the centre there is a red-enamelled disk 15mm in diameter bearing further solar symbols and surrounded by a circlet of laurel leaves and the words HONOUR-GLORY in Abkhazian. The reverse is plain with the recipient’s name and date of award engraved upon it for the first class, a serial number alone for the second and third classes. The badge for the first class is gold, silver with gold circlet for second class and completely in silver for the third class. Military awards bear crossed swords on the uppermost arm of the star – sources are unclear but it appears that swords are worn only on the second and third class badges. The insignia was designed by Levars Butba. Normally awards are returned on promotion within the order, but an award with swords is retained if the higher award is without them. The first class is returned on the death of the holder, to be placed in the state museum, except in the case of awards to foreigners where – along with holders of lower classes – the insignia may be retained by the family. Here is the first class insignia: (Sorry, it's not a very good image and only of the obverse.) Next, the second class badge:

(Think this is the right section...) The Republic of Abkhazia regards itself to be an independent state, and it is so recognised by a few other sovereign nations, but Georgia reckons it is a region of its own territory, albeit fairly autonomous. There has been contention - sometimes descending to outright brawling - ever since the dissolution of the USSR and Georgia's decision to become independent from the emerging Russian Federation. Anyway, as they regard themselves as independent, they issue orders, decorations and medals. While information is hard to get, never mind pictures, this is where I have got to... I am sure some of you will be able to correct or expand upon what I have found out so far, and maybe even add to it. First up is the Medal of Hero of Abkhazia. The title of ‘Hero of Abkhazia’ and its associated medal were instituted on 4 December 1992. It may be awarded to citizens and foreigners alike for individual or collective services to the Republic of Abkhazia and for acts of courage. Drawing on the historic influences of Soviet ‘Hero’ titles and incorporating national symbols, the medal is worn on the left side of the chest above any other awards, and is always worn entire, not as a ribbon bar. The design consists of a gold eight-pointed star with diverging rays from the centre, overlain with a convex solar symbol and with a gemstone at the centre. On the reverse the inscription HERO OF ABKHAZIA appears in Abkhazian. The medal was designed by Valery Gamgia, and is 35mm from edge to edge. The ribbon is striped horizontally, four green and three white stripes, mounted on a four-sided frame. It is always worn entire. (Drat, the Abkhazian text is not rendering correctly... so I have taken it out for the time being.)