Moscow, Russia. Embassy of the Republic of South Ossetia to the Russian Federation. Foreground from left: Irina Churkina, the widow of the late Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin, and their son Maxim and daughter Irina before receiving the Uatsamonga Order, the top state award of the Republic of South Ossetia. The South Ossetian Government awarded Churkin 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.
