The congratulatory message reads, in part:
“You are well known in Russia and beyond as a prominent scholar and director of one of the world’s biggest art museums.
As head of the State Hermitage you have done much to restore unique works of art, modernise the depositaries, renew exhibitions and open branches of the museum in Russia and abroad.
You have also earned repute as a major scholar of Eastern studies, whose works have been highly praised by the academic community.”
Mr Medvedev signed an executive order awarding Mr Piotrovsky the Order for Services to the Fatherland, III degree.