On January 23, the Slavic Culture Center of Donetsk hosted the final ceremony of Person of the Year-2019 Republic Competition. According to a correspondent of the DPR Official Website, the deserved awards were presented by Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin, Chairman of the DPR People’s Council Vladimir Bidyovka, chiefs of ministries and agencies, chief of the Donetsk Republic Public Movement’s Central Executive Committee Alexey Muratov.

This annual competition has been held since 2017 to encourage and acknowledge the citizens of our Republic who have made a significant contribution to the development of our state in various areas: social and cultural areas, public life, security, health, law enforcement, and others. Eighteen people have been awarded this year.

“We all are aware that the main wealth of Donbass has ever been its people. Person of the Year Republic Competition is a really special event. It is the acknowledgement of achievements of our people in various areas, which is very, very significant. Despite the fact that people from various cities and of various professions will come to this stage, they are all united by their active civic stance, professionalism and true service to the Republic. I am very happy for today’s laureates of the competition, they inspire all of us to accomplish new feats, new achievements. I hope they will achieve new heights for the benefit of the Donetsk People’s Republic!” Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin stated.

According to Chairman of the DPR People’s Council Vladimir Bidyovka, there is no doubt that the main asset of our Republic is strong, courageous, enterprising people with a firm civic stance.

“Today I am proud to shake hands with the people who made a significant contribution to the development and future of the Republic in 2019. The heroes are among us, and the Republic is proud of them!” he said.

One of the winners of Person of the Year-2019 Competition, commander of the military base 08806, Guards Colonel Vladimir Zhoga, after he was awarded an honorary diploma, said that this honorary award was not his personal merit.

“It is an achievement of all those who were with me, helped, supported. Our work is far from over, but we will make every effort to defend the citizens of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Defending the Homeland is our duty!” he stressed.

Chief of the Donetsk Republic Public Movement’s Central Executive Committee Alexey Muratov emphasized that it was pleasant to see so many talented, hardworking professionals in this hall.

“A person can truly be happy and bring maximum result only by doing what they love. I hope that not only the winners of our competition, but also all the people of our Republic, go to work every day with pleasure and bring result, because how fast we will build the People’s Republic, which we all dream of, depends on each of us today,” he said.

Winners in the nominations:

Defender of the Republic — Vladimir Zhoga, commander of the military base 08806.

On Guard of Law and Order — Deputy Chief of the City Department and Chief of the Public Security Police of the DPR Internal Affairs Ministry’s Donetsk City Department Alexey Dmitryuk.

Act of the Year — driver of the first assault company at the military base 5002 of the DPR Internal Affairs Ministry’s internal military forces, private Ruslan Savchenko.

Leader — resident of Makeyevka, public figure, director of Phoenix Republic Communications Provider State Enterprise Nikolai Khardikov.

Young Leader of the Year — chief of the Young Republic Public Organization’s office for projects implementation Yana Yakovenko.

Open Heart — registrar at City Clinical Hospital 23 of Donetsk Elena Ignashkina.

Mercy — social worker at the Snezhnoye Social Service Local Center’s Home-Based Social Assistance Department Galina Andreychuk.

For Achievements in Journalism — director of Union Television Company’s Department for Original Shows Production Dmitry Chuburkov.

For Achievements in Agriculture — supervisor of Shakhtersk Poultry Factory State Enterprise’s Produktivnaya site 10 Natalya Onufriyeva.

For Achievements in Public Utilities Sector — 4th-category technician for maintenance and repair of gas equipment at Petrovsky District’s Pperational Service of Donetsk Vasily Polyarush

For Achievements in the Field of Entrepreneurship — sole proprietor Alexander Kunov.

For Achievements in Culture — teacher at Leontovich Music School 1 of Donetsk Alexander Radchenko.

For Achievements in the Field of Industry — foreman of a coal mining site at Torezantratsit State Enterprise’s standalone subdivision Mine Zarya Alexander Gorobets.

For Achievements in the Field of Healthcare — chief doctor at City Clinical Hospital 21 of Donetsk Nadezhda Chegodayeva.

Doctor of the Year — head of Outpatient Clinic 7 in the village of Luhanskoye, general practitioner and family doctor at Primary Health Care Center 10 of Donetsk Valentina Zavalishina.

For Achievements in Physical Culture and Sports — coach and trainer in the paramilitary sport all-around Alexander Astashenko.

For Achievements in Education — teacher of Russian language and literature at Physics and Mathematics Specialized School of Donetsk Anna Kalugina.

For Achievements in Ecology — public activist, ecologist Vladimir Vygonny.