The writer and essayist who received the award had, on 1 January 2009, celebrated his 90th birthday. On his birthday the head of state telephoned him to congratulate him, before sending a congratulatory telegram. The President of Russia signed the decree regarding the award for Daniil Granin in December 2008, and Dmitry Medvedev decided to bestow the award on the author in person.
The President noted that he had long been familiar with the writer's work, and that he always received great pleasure from his books.
Daniil Granin is the fifteenth person to be awarded the Order of St Andrew the Apostle in the Russian Federation. The Order of St Andrew the Apostle was established by Peter the Great in 1698 and till 1917 was the highest honour awarded by the Russian state. It was re-established in 1998 by order of the President of the Russian Federation.