Established 28 December 1988. The order was awarded as a civilian order for personal bravery displayed in saving lives, for courageous work during natural disasters and for other outstanding deeds of personal courage. By the end of 1991, the end of the USSR, the order had been awarded only 529 times. Natalya Yefimova, a school teacher, was the first person awarded the order (on February 3, 1989) who stayed with her class during a hostage situation and saved the children. |