Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic the Order of Aleksandar Nevsky for contributing to the development of relations between the two countries.

A decree awarding the decoration was published on the Kremlin’s web site. It said that Vucic was being decorated for “personal contributions to the development of comprehensive cooperation with the Russian Federation”.  

The Alexander Nevsky award is customarily given to Russian civil servants for meritorious service but can be presented to foreign politicians who have contributed to developing relations with Russia.

The current order follows on the traditions of a similar Soviet order awarded to military commanders. An order of the same name was awarded by the Russian emperor.