Decorations for Most Deserving Individuals in the Fight Against COVID-19

Today, on Armistice Day, President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Serbian Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić awarded decorations for exceptional merit and contribution to the fight against the spread of the Covid-19 infectious disease to deserving individuals and institutions that distinguished themselves in the fight against this infectious disease.

Among the decorated, there were 18 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces who distinguished themselves in taking measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and providing assistance to civilian population.

In addition to the President of Serbia, today’s ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Ana Brnabić. In accordance with the Government’s measures and the Crisis Response Team’s recommendations, the decorations will be presented when the epidemiological situation improves.

Congratulating all citizens of Serbia on today’s holiday, President Vučić said that on this day we commemorate the time of the Serbian tragedy, but also the time of glorious victories. 

— This is the right time to thank those who gave everything they had, gave their lives for our homeland, but also those who are doing everything they can to save the lives of our citizens today. By one definition, honour is a great obligation, enormous. It is a debt that the society acknowledges to an individual, but also an individual’s debt to society — the President of Serbia pointed out and added that by passing the Decree he tried to thank at least partially to people who devoted boundless energy and fought all the time not worrying about their own health.

President Vučić said that a lot of work still awaits the decorated individuals, but also problems, and stated that the decoration is a great honour because "it is awarded by our state".

— Congratulations to all the laureates. Thanks to you, we have saved many lives. This is another thing that obliges you to work even more responsibly, even harder and more successfully and build Serbia’s future — said President Vučić.

The Order of the White Eagle with Swords of the Third Degree was awarded to the Deputy Commander of the Training Command, Brigadier General Jelesije Radivojević, and the Commander of temporary Covid hospitals "Belgrade Fair" and "Belgrade Arena", Colonel Radivoje Anđelković, while The Order of Merit in Matters of Defence and Security of the Third Degree was awarded to the director of Military Hospital Novi Sad, Colonel Dragan Koruga, MD.

The Gold Medal of Merit was awarded to the MoD’s Head of Military Health, Major General Uglješa Jovičić, MD and the Commander of the Covid hospital of the Military Medical Centre “Karaburma”, Colonel Ivo Udovičić, MD.

The Silver Medal for Bravery “Miloš Obilić” was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Branislav Krnjajić, engaged in securing border crossings, migrant centres and reception of our citizens arriving from abroad and Captain Toma Zorzić, engaged in carrying out tasks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 together with the members of the Russian Armed Forces. 

The Silver Medal of Merit was awarded to the Head of the MMA’s Institute of Epidemiology, Colonel Srđan Lazić, Head of Department at the MMA’s Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Colonel Petar Ćurčić, Head of the Military Medical Centre “Karaburma”, Lieutenant Colonel Milan Mladenović, Head of the MMA’s Emergency Centre, Lieutenant Colonel Milan Jovanović, Lieutenant Colonel Negovan Ivanković, engaged in carrying out tasks to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 infectious disease together with the members of the Russian Armed Forces, Head of the MMA’s Maintenance Service, Sergeant Major First Class Momčilo Marić, Sergeant Major Miroslav Ljiljak, engaged in implementing security measures at the Secondary School Students’ Hall of Residence "Patriarch Pavle" and the temporary Covid hospital of the MMC "Karaburma", Sergeant Major Goran Petrović, engaged in implementing security measures at the Clinical Centre Kragujevac, Sergeant Major Jovica Deljanin, engaged in implementing prevention measures against the spread of Covid-19 infectious disease and Daliborka Radišić, head nurse at the MMC "Karaburma”.

The Gold Medal for Zealous Service was awarded to the Commander of the temporary Covid hospital at the "Čair" Hall in Niš, Lieutenant Colonel Zoran Smiljković.

A part of the MoD’s Artistic Ensemble “Stanislav Binički” and conductor and soloist Katarina Božić participated in today’s ceremony, performing the national anthem of Serbia and the composition “This is Serbia”.