Russian President Vladimir Putin has awarded Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with Russia’s highest state honor, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, by presidential decree.

Axar.az reports via TASS, according to the decree, Lavrov received the award "for outstanding services to the Fatherland, his significant contribution to the development and implementation of Russia’s foreign policy course, and many years of dedicated public service."

Lavrov turns 75 years old on March 21. He has served as Foreign Minister for nearly 22 years, making him the longest-serving minister in the Russian government.

In Russian history, he is second only to Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko (28 years in office) and Imperial Chancellor Alexander Gorchakov (26 years).