Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"

Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"
First Class Civilian Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"
Awarded by  Russian Federation
Type	Two grade medal in civil and military divisions
Eligibility	Russian citizens
Awarded for	Outstanding contributions to the state
Status	Active
Statistics
Established	March 2, 1994
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Cross of St. George
Next (lower)	Medal "For Courage"
Related	Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"
Ribbon of the medal 1st class Ribbon of the medal 2nd class

The Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" (Russian: Медаль ордена «За заслуги перед Отечеством») was established on March 2, 1994 by Presidential Decree №442. Its award criteria were modified on January 6, 1991 by Presidential Decree 19 and again on September 7, 2010 by Presidential Decree 1099. The medal of the Order is divided into two classes, the first and the second, it is further divided into a civilian and a military division, the medal of the military division is awarded "with swords" and its criteria differ from those of the civilian division.

The Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" is 32mm in diameter and made of silver, the medal first class is gold plated. The obverse bears a likeness of the Order, a crowned double headed eagle over a red-enamel cross pattée. On the reverse, the motto of the Order "BENEFIT, HONOUR, GLORY" (Russian: "ПОЛЬЗА, ЧЕСТЬ И СЛАВА"). At the bottom, laurel leaves, the year of establishment "1994" and the award serial number. In the case of the military division, the sword device is added between the medal suspension ring and the pentagonal mount. The medal hangs from a standard Russian pentagonal mount covered by an overlapping scarlet ribbon.

Medal I class
Civilian Division

Medal II class
Civilian Division

Medal I class
Military Division

Medal II class
Military Division