Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Historic Visit to Russia and Austria

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his two-day visit to Russia and departed for Austria on Tuesday. Before leaving, he interacted with the Indian community at a hotel in Moscow and waved at people at the Russian airport.

During his visit, PM Modi was ceremoniously presented with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia’s highest civilian honor, by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Although the award was bestowed on him in 2019, he received it physically during this visit. The award recognizes his contribution to the strategic partnership between Russia and India and the friendly ties between the two countries.

PM Modi expressed his gratitude on X, dedicating the award to the 140 crore Indians. He also addressed the Indian community in Moscow, highlighting the strong ties between India and Russia and the role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening these relations. He announced the opening of Indian consulates in Kazan and Yekaterinburg and emphasized that the India-Russia relationship is contributing to global prosperity.

As part of the second leg of his visit, PM Modi will be in Austria on July 9-10. This visit is historic as it marks the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited Austria in 41 years.