On the first day of 2021, President Yaroslav Mar signed a Decree establishing the Presidential Citation of Merit: a national award of the Federal Republic of Lostisland conferred by the President of Lostisland upon foreign Heads of State, senior officials, or other accomplished individuals. With the same Decree, the first recipients of the Citation were announced.
Historically, Lostisland was known for its stinginess when it comes to awards. The Order of the White Pigeon, Lostisland’s highest and until today only award, has never been granted to anyone, and the only members of the Order are its co-Grand Masters: President Yaroslav Mar and Prime Minister Denys Tezdzhanenko. The establishment of the Citation seeks to fill the void where there is no mechanism for awarding distinguished foreigners.
The list of the first recipients of the Citation includes leaders and senior officials of fellow new nation projects (micronations), and is as follows:
- H.M. Queen Carolyn of Ladonia
- H.E. Thomas Chepaitis, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Užupis
- H.I.M. Emperor Jonathan I of Austenasia
- H.I.M. Emperor Eric Lis of Aerica
- H.E. Stephen Luke, Vice President of the Commonwealth of Dracul
- H.R.H. Grand Duke Nicholas of Flandrensis
- H.I.&R.A.M. Emperor Oscar I of Karnia-Ruthenia
- H.R.H. Grand Duke Travis of Westarctica
The accomplishments for which the individuals were inducted include excellence in nation-building, securing global peace, promoting diplomacy, historical and encyclopedic research, promotion of Roman culture, defending human rights, commitment to environmentalism, fighting climate change, and the preservation of Antarctica as a unique national reserve.
The recipients of the Presidential Citation of Merit will be issued a certificate, signed and stamped by the President, which will be shipped to them free of charge. Further inductments are at the discretion of the President and will be announced accordingly.