The Order of Liberty (орден Свободи) was instituted on April 10, 2008 to honour merits of citizens for strengthening the Sovereignty and Independence of Ukraine, as well as for consolidating Ukrainian society, developing Democracy, advancing socio-economic and political reforms, and advocating the Constitutional Rights and Liberties of Man and Citizen.
The Order was instituted by President Yushchenko by decree № 1177/2005. It can be given to citizens of Ukraine, foreigners and stateless persons may be awarded the Order of Freedom.
Awarding the Order of Freedom may be carried out posthumously. Those awarded the Order of Freedom are called a Knight of the Order of Freedom.
The Order of Liberty Medal Design
The Commission on State Awards and Heraldry was instructed to hold an all-Ukrainian competition to develop designs for the Order of Freedom. On May 20, 2008, Decree of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko № 460/2008 approved the Statute of the Order, which includes a description of the Order’s badge.
The sign of the Order of Freedom is made of gilded silver and has the shape of an equilateral cross with diverging sides. The sides are covered with white enamel and decorated with four rectangular Swarovski crystals. In the centre of the cross is a round blue enamel medallion with a gold image of the Sign of the Princely State of Vladimir the Great framed by a laurel wreath. The sides of the corners of the cross are framed by stylized floral ornaments. The reverse side of the sign of the order is flat with the engraved number of the sign.
The ribbon is white silk moire with longitudinal stripes – in the middle of wide blue and yellow, bordered on the edges by narrow stripes of yellow and blue, respectively, and on the edges of the ribbon by narrow strips of orange.
A person awarded the Order of Freedom is awarded a badge of the order and an order book of the established pattern.
