Order of Outstanding Merit

• Name — Order of Outstanding Merit • Type — Honorary Award • Status — Active • Established — 29 August 1996 • Firstawarded — 29 August 1996 • Lastawarded — 30 September 2020 • Total Awarded — 120 • Precedence Label — Precedence • Lower — Order of El-Yurt Khurmati • Higher — Order of Jaloliddin Manguberdi • Awarded For — Awarded to citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan and citizens of foreign countries for their great achievements in the development of science and technology, economics and culture, a significant contribution to the development of interstate cooperation and the implementation of domestic and foreign policies aimed at enhancing the international prestige of Uzbekistan • Eligibility — Citizens of Uzbekistan and Non-citizens • Caption2 — Ribbon • Presenter — Uzbekistan Uzbekistan

The Order of Outstanding Merit is made from a 925‑grade silver alloy plated with 0.25‑micron‑thick gold. The order itself is a ruby‑coloured eight‑pointed star, with scattered green‑coloured triangles between the points of the star. In the centre is a blue‑coloured globe bearing the outline of Uzbekistan. The globe is surrounded by a white‑coloured circle inscribed with the words "for great services" at the top and a laurel wreath at the bottom. The gilded intermediate block depicts Uzbekistan's national symbol: a Huma bird spreading its wings against the background of a rising sun. The order weighs 65 grams and has a height of 7 millimetres.

• Spain Juan Antonio Samaranch – President of the IOC (awarded on August 29, 1996) • Uzbekistan Erkin Vohidov – National Poet of Uzbekistan (awarded on November 30, 1996)

• Uzbekistan Turgun Alimatov – Uzbek folk music player (awarded on August 26, 1997) • Uzbekistan Said Ahmad - Playwright and writer (awarded on August 26, 1997)

• Ukraine Leonid Kuchma – President of Ukraine (awarded on February 16, 1998) • Uzbekistan Ismail Dzhurabekov - First Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan (awarded on August 27, 1998) • Uzbekistan Kozim Tulyaganov – mayor (Hokim) of Tashkent (awarded on August 27, 1998) • Uzbekistan Rakhim Akhmedov – People's Artist of Uzbekistan (awarded on August 27, 1998) • Uzbekistan Mutal Burhonov – musical composer (awarded on August 27, 1998) • Uzbekistan Zikir Muhammadjonov – actor (awarded on August 27, 1998) • Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev – President of Kazakhstan (awarded on October 31, 1998) • Kyrgyzstan Chinghiz Aitmatov – Kyrgyz writer (awarded on December 11, 1998)

• Uzbekistan Ozod Sharafiddinov – editor-in-chief of the magazine Jahon adabiyeti (awarded on March 22, 1999) • Russia Salizhan Sharipov – Russian cosmonaut of Kyrgyz descent (awarded on July 29, 1999) • Uzbekistan Buribay Akhmedov – Uzbek scientist (awarded on August 25, 1999) • Uzbekistan Fazila Sulaimonova – leading researcher at the Academy of Sciences (awarded on August 25, 1999)

• USSR Gʻafur Gʻulom – Soviet Uzbek academician (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000) • USSR Musa Tashmukhamedov – Soviet Uzbek poet and writer (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000) • USSR Abdulla Qahhor – Soviet Uzbek playwright (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000) • USSR Tuychi Tashmukhamedov – Soviet Uzbek folk musician (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000) • USSR Mukhitdin Kari-Yakubov – Soviet Uzbek actor and singer (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000) • USSR Yunus Rajabiy – Soviet Uzbek composer and academician (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000) • USSR Abror Hidoyatov – Soviet Uzbek theater actor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000) • USSR Jurahan Sultanov – Soviet Uzbek actor, singer, and composer (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000) • USSR Mamurjon Uzakov – Soviet Uzbek singer (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000) • USSR Komiljon Otaniyozov – Soviet Uzbek singer and musician (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000) • USSR Botir Zokirov – Soviet Uzbek singer, writer, and actor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000) • USSRUzbekistan Malik Nabiev – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded on August 25, 2000) • USSRUzbekistan Halima Nosirova – Soviet Uzbek opera singer (awarded on August 28, 2000)

• USSR Lutfi Sarimsoqova – Soviet Uzbek actress (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Mukarram Turgunbaeva – Soviet Uzbek ballet dancer (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Shukur Burkhanov – Soviet Uzbek actor (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Tamara Khanum – Soviet Uzbek actress of Armenian descent (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Sadriddin Ayni – Soviet Tajik writer and scholar (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Maqsud Shayxzoda – Soviet Uzbek poet and playwright (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Mirtemir Tursunov – Soviet Uzbek poet (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Mirkarim Osimov – Soviet Uzbek writer (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Ural Tansykbayev – Soviet Uzbek painter of Kazakh descent (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSRUzbekistan Chingiz Akhmarov – Soviet Uzbek artist of Tatar descent (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Khoji Abdurasulov – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Mannon Uyghur – Soviet Uzbek actor and playwright (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Maria Kuznetsova – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Abbas Bakirov – Soviet Uzbek actor and theater director (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Usta Shirin Murodov – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Nabi Ganiev – Soviet Uzbek actor, film director, and screenwriter (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSR Murojon Akhmedov – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001) • USSRUzbekistan Edvard Rtveladze – Soviet Uzbek academician of Georgian descent (awarded on August 22, 2001) • USSRUzbekistan Saodat Kabulova – Soviet Uzbek opera singer and actress (awarded on August 24, 2001) • USSRUzbekistan Oʻtkir Hoshimov – Soviet Uzbek writer (awarded on August 24, 2001)

• USSR Khabib Abdullaev – Soviet Uzbek academician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR Sodiq Azimov – Soviet Uzbek physicist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR To‘xtasin Jalilov – Soviet Uzbek composer (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR Ubay Oripov – Soviet Uzbek academician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR Igor Savitsky – Soviet Russian painter and archaeologist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSRUzbekistan Tashmukhamed Sarymsakov – Soviet Uzbek mathematician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR Sagdy Sirazhdinov – Soviet Uzbek politician and academician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR Abid Sadykov – Soviet Uzbek chemist and politician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR Hamid Sulaimonov – Soviet Uzbek scientist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR Olim Xoʻjayev – Soviet Uzbek actor and theater director (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR Sabir Yunusov – Soviet Uzbek chemist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR Tashmuhamed Kara-Niyazov – Soviet Uzbek mathematician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR Yahya Gulyamov – Soviet Uzbek archaeologist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002) • USSR Galina Pugachenkova – Soviet archaeologist and art historian (awarded on August 26, 2002) • USSRUzbekistan Abdukodir Khayitmetov – Soviet Uzbek scientist (awarded on August 26, 2002) • Lithuania Valdas Adamkus – President of Lithuania (awarded on September 27, 2002)

• Spain Juan Carlos I of Spain – King of Spain (awarded on January 24, 2003) • Spain Queen Sofía of Spain – Queen of Spain (awarded on January 24, 2003) • Poland Aleksander Kwaśniewski – President of Poland (awarded on June 30, 2003) • USSR Vasit Vakhidov – Soviet Uzbek surgeon and scientist (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003) • USSRUzbekistan Makhmud Mirzaev – Soviet Uzbek scientist (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003) • USSRUzbekistan Askad Mukhtar – Soviet Uzbek writer and poet (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003) • USSR Ibrohim Moʻminov – Soviet Uzbek scientist (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003) • USSR Rahim Pirmuhamedov – Soviet Uzbek actor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003) • USSR Tolib Sodiqov – Soviet Uzbek composer and conductor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003) • USSR Saib Khojaev – Soviet Uzbek actor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003) • Russian EmpireUSSR Richard Schroeder – Russian and Soviet scientist (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003) • USSR Shuhrat – Soviet Uzbek poet and playwright (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003) • USSR Razzoq Hamroyev – Soviet Uzbek actor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003) • Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze – President of Georgia (awarded on October 9, 2003) • Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov – President of Bulgaria (awarded on November 18, 2003) • Uzbekistan Matyakub Koshchanov – Uzbek academician (awarded on December 18, 2003) • Uzbekistan Zhura Musaev – Uzbek academician (awarded on December 18, 2003) • USSRUzbekistan Yalkin Turakulov – Uzbek scientist (awarded on December 18, 2003)

• USSR Khozhikhon Boltaev – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004) • USSR Muhammadzhon Mirzaev – Soviet Uzbek composer (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004) • USSR Hamid Olimjon – Soviet Uzbek writer and poet (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004) • USSR Nabi Rahimov – Soviet Uzbek actor (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004) • USSR Vsevolod Romanovsky – Soviet Russian mathematician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004) • USSR Ayimkhan Shamuratova – Soviet Uzbek actress of Karakalpak descent (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004) • USSRUzbekistan Sora Eshontoʻrayeva – Soviet Uzbek actress (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004)

• USSR Batyr Valikhodzhaev – Soviet Uzbek academician (awarded posthumously on August 24, 2005) • Uzbekistan Shavkat Rakhmatullaev – Uzbek academician (awarded on August 24, 2005) • Uzbekistan Mamadzhan Rakhmanov – Uzbek academician (awarded on August 24, 2005) • Uzbekistan Yulduz Usmonova – Uzbek actress and singer (awarded on August 24, 2005) • Uzbekistan Zokir Almatov – Uzbek politician (awarded on August 24, 2005)

• Uzbekistan Pirimqul Qodirov – Uzbek writer (awarded on August 25, 2006) • Uzbekistan Rakhima Mavlanova – Uzbek academician (awarded on August 25, 2006)

• Uzbekistan Ruslan Chagaev – Uzbek professional boxer (awarded on April 17, 2007) • Uzbekistan Timur Atakuziev – Uzbek scientist (awarded on August 27, 2007) • Uzbekistan Albert Ataliev – Uzbek surgeon (awarded on August 27, 2007) • Uzbekistan Orkhon Makhmudov – Uzbek politician (awarded on August 27, 2007) • Uzbekistan Mahmud Salokhiddinov – Uzbek academician (awarded on August 27, 2007) • Uzbekistan Abdulla Ubaidullaev – Uzbek politician (awarded on August 27, 2007) • Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow – President of Turkmenistan (awarded on October 17, 2007)

• Russia Vladimir Putin – President of Russia (awarded on February 20, 2008) • Uzbekistan Suyima Gʻaniyeva – Uzbek scholar (awarded on August 25, 2008) • Uzbekistan Hashimjon Ismailov – Uzbek director (awarded on August 25, 2008) • Uzbekistan Mirzaatham Rakhimov – Uzbek scientist (awarded on August 25, 2008) • RussiaUzbekistan Artur Taymazov – Russian and Uzbek wrestler and politician of Ossetian descent (awarded on August 25, 2008) • Latvia Valdis Zatlers – President of Latvia (awarded on October 1, 2008)

• Uzbekistan Munojot Yoʻlchiyeva – Uzbek singer (awarded on August 24, 2011) • Uzbekistan Muyassar Razzokova – Uzbek singer (awarded on August 24, 2011)

• JapanHaruhiko Kuroda – president of the Asian Development Bank (awarded on February 16, 2012)

• Latvia Andris Berzins – President of Latvia (awarded on October 18, 2013)

• Uzbekistan Azizxon Qayumov – Uzbek scientist (awarded on August 22, 2014)

• Uzbekistan Ravshan Irmatov – Uzbek FIFA referee (awarded on December 31, 2015)

• Uzbekistan Bahodir Yoʻldoshev – Uzbek artistic director (awarded on August 28, 2019)

• Uzbekistan Abdulla Avloniy – Uzbek Jadid poet, playwright, journalist, and scholar (awarded on September 30, 2020) • Uzbekistan Mahmudkhodja Behbudiy – Uzbek Jadid activist, writer, and journalist (awarded on September 30, 2020) • Uzbekistan Munawwar Qari – Uzbek Jadid author, poet, teacher, and journalist (awarded on September 30, 2020)