On 27 September 2021, Mr. Dulamsuren Davaa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Russian Federation, presented government awards of Mongolia to representatives of scientific and cultural institutions of Saint Petersburg who have made significant contributions to the development and strengthening of good-neighbourly relations between Mongolia and Russia. One of the award recipients was Irina F. Popova, Director of the IOM RAS, Corresponding Member of the RAS. She was awarded the Order of the Polar Star (No. 154) by the decree of the President of Mongolia of June 4, 2021.