The awarding ceremony to bestow the Honorary Citizen title on the awardees elected in 2020 and 2021 took place at the Mariinsky Palace on May 27.
Director General of Almazov National Medical Research Centre Evgeny Shlyakhto was elected an honorary citizen of St. Petersburg in 2020 but due to COVID-19 quarantine measures the awarding ceremony was postponed.
The ceremony was attended by Chairwoman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov and Chairman of St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly Vyacheslav Makarov.
Evgeny Shlyakhto expressed his heartfelt appreciation for this high-level award:
“Today is the birthday of my teacher and friend Vladimir Almazov and the birthday of the city as well, and this high-level award is a sign of trust that the people of Saint Petersburg have placed in me and, of course, it is not just a recognition for me, but also a huge responsibility and commitment to what we do.”
 |
 |
The Honorary Citizen title is the highest recognition of an outstanding contribution to the development of St. Petersburg, increasing its importance and reputation in Russia and globally, strengthening democracy and protecting human rights, as well as in science, art, spiritual and moral development of the society.
Honorary Citizens of St. Petersburg are granted the right of legislative initiative in the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly.
Evgeny Shlyakhto is the Director General of Almazov National Medical Research Centre, Academician of the Russian Academy of Science, Honoured Scientist of Russia, President of the Russian Society of Cardiology, chief visiting cardiologist of the Russian Ministry of Health for the Volga, Southern, North Caucasian and Northwestern federal districts, chief visiting cardiologist of the Saint Petersburg Health Committee.
In April 2020, Evgeny Shlyakhto was appointed the head of the Interdepartmental Medical Working Group at the Interdepartmental Council on the prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in St. Petersburg. It focused on solving the most relevant issues of organizing medical care for patients in all areas together with the expert community, Health Committee, Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare (Roszdravnadzor) and Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor).
At the time of the epidemic, doctors are coping with a global healthcare challenge. It is definitely symbolic that a doctor and a talented healthcare professional received the title of the Honorary Citizen of St. Petersburg.