YAKUTSK, January 15 (RIA Novosti) - A family from Siberia's northeastern Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) have given the Russian president a reindeer after he presented them with an Order of Parental Glory award, a governmental spokesman said on Thursday.
Vladimir and Olga Maximov were among eight couples to receive the Order of Parental Glory, awarded to couples who have four or more biological or adopted children, from Dmitry Medvedev at a ceremony in the Kremlin on Tuesday.
The extended family, which includes parents, five children, three grandchildren, three daughters-in-law and two nephews, said the reindeer, a symbol of well-being and prosperity in Yakutia, would live in their home village of Iengra until its new owner was ready to pick it up.
Medvedev declared demography one of his top priorities and established the award for "socially responsible" families demonstrating a healthy lifestyle in one of his first decrees shortly after taking office in May.
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