The Russian President Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On National Awards of the Russian Federation to Foreign Citizens. The awards were presented for the recipients’ great contribution to expanding friendship and cooperation with the Russian Federation and to the development of economic, scientific and cultural ties.
The Order of Friendship was awarded to two chess players - Viswanathan Anand (India) and Boris Gelfand (Israel), the participants of the FIDE World Chess Championship Match that was held at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow in 2012.

May 31, 2012. After the Match, the both grand masters met with the Russian President who congratulated the players on their brilliant results and a great game.

Photos source: http://eng.kremlin.ru