International Chodiev Foundation (ICF) is pleased to announce that its Founder, Dr Patokh Chodiev, was awarded the Order of Friendship of the Russian Federation, in recognition of many years of his work at promoting education, intercultural relations and arts.
A corresponding decree was signed by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin in December 2019. The award ceremony has taken place today at the Kremlin.
Dr Patokh Chodiev, a Japanese scholar, entrepreneur and philanthropist, has been supporting international cultural exchanges and scientific and humanitarian activities for more than 20 years. In 1996, he established International Chodiev Foundation with the aim of implementing a variety of scientific, charitable and cultural programmes.
Today, ICF’s activities include financing of MGIMO scholarship and internship programmes, publishing of scientific work, supporting cultural and art projects, and developing international relations. The Foundation actively works with the Association of Japanologists of the Russian Federation and supports its scientific and publishing activities. In addition, ICF implements a number of humanitarian projects across the CIS countries, amongst which – support of orphanages and medical centres, aid programmes for the most vulnerable, and migrants support.
In recent years, various large-scale international cultural events have taken place under the direct patronage of Dr Patokh Chodiev. For over 10 years ICF and Dr Chodiev have been sponsoring J-Fest, a festival of contemporary Japanese culture in Russia. In 2018, with the help of ICF, Shochiku Grand Kabuki theatre from Tokyo brough their unique traditional theatre art to the Russian audiences. In Japan, Russian Culture Festival has been taken place since 2015, showcasing Russia’s best opera and ballet talents. In 2019, the Foundation and Dr Chodiev supported the Year of Russo-Japanese Intercultural Exchanges.
Expressing his gratitude, Dr Patokh Chodiev noted: ‘Supporting culture, art and science are our quintessential activities, and key priorities of the International Chodiev Foundation. We strive to make them accessible to as many people as possible. I am deeply honoured to see that our work is recognised by such a high award. Undoubtedly, this is an indication that our Foundation is moving in the right direction’.
About Dr Patokh Chodiev
Dr Patokh Chodiev was born in Uzbekistan in 1953. He is a Doctor of Political Science, member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, member of the Board of Trustees of MGIMO, one of the founders and members of the Board of Trustees of MGIMO Endowment, member of the Board of Trustees of the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, founder of International Chodiev Foundation, Honorary Chairman of Association of Japanologists of the Russian Federation, member of the Russian Federation Commission for UNESCO.
Dr Chodiev is co-owner of Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), Eurasian Bank, Eurasia Insurance Company and Eurasian Industrial Company.
About the Order of Friendship
The Order of Friendship is Russia’s state award, established in 1994 (its predecessor was the Soviet Order of Friendship of Peoples). It is a pentagonal star created from diverging golden rays, at the centre of which is a terrestrial globe, with the oceans covered in blue enamel. The globe is surrounded by a green enamelled wreath of olive branches. On the reverse is the inscription ‘Peace and Friendship’.
The Order recognises the high achievement in the development of the economic and scientific potential of Russia, and extensive efforts in bringing together different cultures and nationalities and strengthening peaceful relations between states.
In previous years, the Order of Friendship was awarded to a number of outstanding individuals, amongst them the famous conductor Vladimir Spivakov, Russia’s famous artist Oleg Basilashvili, former General Director of PepsiCo Donald Kendall, American historian and expert on Russia Stephen Cohen, and former Head of the space agency NASA Charles Bolden.
