The awarding of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress 'For Merits' medal took place as part of the events timed to the IV pre-electoral review conference of the Federal Jewish National Cultural Autonomy. The medal was awarded to important public figures of the Russian Jewish community.

The highest EAJC community award was presented to the leader of the Kazan' Jewish community, FJNCA President in 2008-2013 Mikhail Skoblionok, to the founder and editor-in-chief of the educational journal “Roots” (“Korni”) Semen Avgustevich, and to the long-standing head of the Moscow Jewish Sephard Religious Community (MEROS) Yomtov Shamailov. As the accompaniying diplomas read, the awards have been given for “an outstanding contribution to Jewish community life.”

While awarding the medals, the EAJC PR Department Head Roman Spector noted, “The main value of this award is that it is given to people who are truly active in the Jewish community, to people who have selflessly dedicated their lives to the restoration and building of community life in all of its diversity. It is a sign of respect for their devoted work, the acknowledgement of their obvious merits. When we decorate them, we are saying, 'Thank you for all that you have done, we accept and value the fruits of your work,' and that is the least we can do for our wonderful community members.”