‘Year of Russia’ in Monaco Culminates in Special Award Ceremony
 
Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Olga Golodets, and the Russian President’s Special Representative for International Cultural Cooperation, Mikhail Shvydkoi, were recently awarded with the honorary Order of St. Charles – the highest state award of the Principality of Monaco – at a special gala dinner and ceremony organised by Action Russia in Moscow.
 
The event marked the end of an exciting ‘Year of Russia’ in Monaco, which saw Action bring to life an impressive 140 cultural events in the country throughout 2015. “The past year was filled with different events, which helped us better understand Russian culture. We look forward to the Days of Russian Culture in Monaco, scheduled for 2016,” said Guillaume Rose, president of the Monaco Tourist and Convention Authority.
 
The recent gala dinner was made all the more special with a dinner menu created by head chef of the Hotel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, Joël Garault, and well known chef of the Metropol Hotel in Moscow, Andrey Shmakov. Musical inspiration for the evening was provided by the top violist of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monte-Carlo, Zhang Zhang.
 
At the event, Ambassador of Monaco in Russia, Mireille Pettiti said:  “The Year of Russia in Monaco was a truly historic event, marking the long relationship between Russia and Monaco. We thank Ms. Golodets and Mr. Shvydkoi for their personal contribution and the opportunity to see a Bolshoi Ballet performed in Monaco, as well as the ‘From Chagall to Malevich’ exhibition, and a concert of Russian music performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monte-Carlo, under the direction of Valery Gergiev.”