Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda issued awards to people for contributing to the Republic of Lithuania and making Lithuania known on February 16, Lithuanian Independence Day.

Vladas Algirdas Bumelis, a standing member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, a scholar, professor at Gediminas Technical University in Vilnius, an habilitated PhD, chief executive of the biotech firm Biotechpharma, the founder in Lithuania of genetic engineering pharmaceuticals and the recipient of international awards for creating and producing pharmaceuticals, received the medal the Order of the Officer’s Cross “For Merit to Lithuania.”

David Harris, executive director of the AJC and an active proponent of Lithuanian interests on the international stage, was awarded the Order of the Knight’s Cross “For Merit to Lithuania.”