HSE Professor Leonid Issaev Awarded Order in Burkina Faso

On April 26, 2026, in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, Prof. Leonid Issaev of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs at the St Petersburg School of Social Sciences was made a Knight of the Order of the Stallion by decision of the President of Burkina Faso. The formal award ceremony took place during the 22nd National Culture Week, where Russia participated as the special guest.

Established by Decree No. 93-256 of August 6, 1993, the Order of the Stallion (French: Ordre de l'Étalon) is the highest state decoration of Burkina Faso. It is awarded to citizens for outstanding civil or military service to the nation and may also be conferred upon foreign nationals. Its name derives from the national coat of arms, which features two stallions.

From April 25 to May 2, 2026, the 22nd National Culture Week was held in Bobo-Dioulasso, the cultural capital of Burkina Faso. Organised under the patronage of President Ibrahim Traoré, the event is the largest festival in West Africa and brings together cultural and artistic figures from across the region.

This year, Russia was granted special guest status at the festival. Russian participants performed a musical number at the opening ceremony in the presence of President Ibrahim Traoré and the heads of government of members of the Alliance of Sahel States. In addition, the delegation organised a separate programme featuring workshops and lectures.

Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo thanked the Russian delegation for its participation and presented Leonid Issaev with the Order of the Stallion. The honour was awarded in recognition of his long-standing contribution to the development of Russian–Burkinabé relations in culture and education.

May 04