ODESA, MAY 18th, 2013, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE ― A native of Odesa, People's Artist of the Russian Federation Yuri Stoyanov has been awarded a medal for “the preserving of the humour and artistry, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

The awarding ceremony was held yesterday, 17 May, at the Great Hall of the Bristol hotel.

By the decision of the Advisory Council, People's Artist of the Russian Federation Yuri Stoyanov has been awarded a medal for “the preserving of the humour and artistry traditions of Odesa, the glorification of the high rank of Odessites in the international cultural space”.

“Thank you very much, I am very touched. And I accept this award, first as a support in difficult year of loss of my friend and partner, and secondly, as an advance on that new programme, which I will start shooting as early as August...” Yuri Stoyanov noted.

INFORMATION: The Mikhail Vorontsov Honorary Medal for Special Contribution to Development of Odesa Region has been established on the occasion of the Day of Odesa Region as a symbol of public acknowledgement of their services to Odesa Region. It is awarded for an outstanding contribution to the development of Odesa Region as well as for acts facilitating the rebirth of its spirituality.

The Award was named after His Serene Highness, Field-Marshal-General, Prince Mikhail Vorontsov, who is truly considered to be one of the most reputable person of our area. The time with him being in office for over thirty years, from 1825 to 1856, is often called Odesa’s “Golden Age”. It is Mikhail Vorontsov’s 230th Anniversary in 2012.

The award is a medal, made of sterling (925) silver, it has a round shape of 70 mm in diameter. The obverse of the medal displays a bás-relief of Mikhail Vorontsov with a banner in the background. Alongside the upper edge there is an inscription “General-Governor Mikhail Vorontsov” in the Russian language. The reverse of the Medal displays a contour of the map of Odesa Region in the background with the Vorontsov Lighthouse and an inscription “For the contribution to development of Odesa Region” in the front, in the lower part there is a ribbon with the official motto of the Vorontsov family “Semper immota fides” in Latin (Faith is always firm).

The Founder of the Award is the Analytical News Agency Context-Prichernomorie — an independent, non-governmental media organization.

The aim of the Award is to recognize publically the services and personal achievements as far as the development of Odesa Region is concerned, to determine their leadership in different spheres of life, to stimulate people to reach new heights and demonstrate their examples for coming generations to follow.