The winners of one of Russia's most esteemed Person of the Year 2005 national award were announced at a ceremony in the Patriarch's Chambers in the Moscow Kremlin on February 15. It was for the fifth time that Russian Information Agency RBC paid tribute to those whose professional achievement had contributed greatly to Russia's development. The award is given for outstanding personal and professional qualities and results achieved by the nominee over the previous year. The award helps reveal new names and sometimes celebrates nominees' achievement at the earliest stages of their careers. However, the award also pursues other more profound goals. "We have launched a mechanism that does not simply draw the community's attention to outstanding professional achievement, but also works to renew operational and managerial techniques and helps rejuvenate the elite," Yury Rovensky, RBC's General Director, said.

Award ceremonies are commonplace in Russia today, but Person of the Year is rightfully considered as one of the most significant prizes. The award is recognized and supported by the government, which is evidenced by the award's location and a truly "stellar" list of participants. "The people receiving awards today are true leaders, no matter what industry they represent," Arkady Dvorkovich, head of the Russian President's Expert Department said. "They will determine Russia's policy and development for the next few years."

Top Russian business executives, political and public figures, and state officials gathered for the gala event in the Patriarch's Chambers. Attending the ceremony were David Yakobashvili, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wimm-Bill-Dann; Vladimir Tarachev, the State Duma Deputy; Nadezhda Martyanova, the General Director of the MAKS insurance company; Arkady Dvorkovich, the head of the Russian President's Expert Department; Rostislav Ordovsky-Tanayevsky Blanco, the President of Rostik Group; Viktor Gerashchenko, the Chairman of YUKOS' Board of Directors; designer Yelena Yermak; Dmitry Mezentsev, the Federation Council Vice Speaker; Tatyana Paramonova, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia, and many others.

What also adds to the prestige of the award is its expert council, which selects the winners. It includes well-known public figures, representatives of the state administration, chief executives of Russian companies and the mass media. "Have a look at the expert council, the winners, and the award presenters, and you will find a full roster of the most recognized figures," State Duma Deputy Vladimir Tarachev noted.

This year the expert council chose 37 winners representing diverse areas of activity. Person of the Year categories are traditionally divided into two groups covering the sociopolitical, and the business spheres. Winners in sociopolitical categories were announced first, then those in the business sphere, and finally the Grand Prix winners. Four people received the highest prize and the "Glory of Russia" order this year: Alexander Zhukov, the Deputy Prime Minister or Russia; Leonid Reyman, the Information Technologies and Communications Minister; Vladimir Resin, the Deputy Mayor of Moscow; and Nikolai Tsvetkov, the President of the Uralsib financial corporation.

Among the winners in sociopolitical categories were Yury Zhdanov, the head of the Federal Agency for managing special economic zones; Dmitry Zelenin, the Governor of the Tver region; journalist Vladimir Solovyov; Lyudmila Verbitskaya, the Rector of the Saint-Petersburg State University; Sergei Litovchenko, the Executive Director of the Russian Managers Association; Konstantin Ernst, the General Director of Channel One Russia, and People's Artist of the USSR Igor Moiseyev. The ceremony itself was as always spectacular, stylish, and most importantly did not last too long. The austere beauty of the Patriarch's Chambers added to the solemnity of the award ceremony. And another noteworthy fact is that there was no trite pretentiousness so typical of today's "high society". Director of the Moscow House of Photography Olga Sviblova made this thought public by saying: "We are all tired of glamour. So I am glad there was no singing or dancing in the Kremlin today. The ceremony was held in proper business fashion like anything RBC does."

RBC, as the founder of the award, can be congratulated as well, because after the first five years of its existence Person of the Year has acquired international status, and now a citizen of any country in the world can become a Person of the Year in Russia if he can work to the benefit of this country. Two foreigners were among the winners selected by the independent expert council this year: General Manager of Auchan Russia Patrick Longuet (in the "Entrepreneur of the year" category), and President and CEO of TNK-BP Robert Dudley (in the special "Foreign top manager in Russia" category). The international prestige of Russia's national award ensures an attractive image of Russian business and Russia as a whole, thus helping the country integrate into the global community.