Moscow, Russia. Znaur Gassiyev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Ossetia to the Russian Federation, presents the Uatsamonga Order, the top South Ossetian state award, to Irina Churkina, the widow of the late Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin. The South Ossetian Government awarded him posthumously for his unique achievements in asserting justice and equal rights for all nations and peoples in international relations and for his personal contribution to strengthening the state independence of the Republic of South Ossetia and the courage displayed in the process.
