# Order of Outstanding Merit

The Order of Outstanding Merit (Uzbek: Buyuk xizmatlari uchun) is an order that is currently awarded by the Republic of Uzbekistan.

## Design

The Order of Outstanding Merit is made from 925 probe silver alloy plated with 0.25 micron thick gold.
The order itself is a ruby colored eight-pointed star with scattered green colored triangles in between each end of the star. In the center is a blue colored globe with the shape of Uzbekistan on the globe. The globe is surrounded by another white colored circle that says "for great services" on the top and a laurel wreath on the bottom.
The intermediate gilded block depicts Uzbekistan's national symbol, a Huma bird spreading its wings against the background of a rising sun.
The weight of the order is 65 grams and its height is 7 millimeters.

## Recipients by year
### 1996

* Juan Antonio Samaranch – President of the IOC (awarded on August 29, 1996)
* Erkin Vohidov – National Poet of Uzbekistan (awarded on November 30, 1996)

### 1997

* Turgun Alimatov – Uzbek folk music player (awarded on August 26, 1997)
* Said Ahmad - Playwright and writer (awarded on August 26, 1997)

### 1998

* Leonid Kuchma – President of Ukraine (awarded on February 16, 1998)
* Ismail Dzhurabekov - First Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan (awarded on August 27, 1998)
* Kozim Tulyaganov – mayor (Hokim) of Tashkent (awarded on August 27, 1998)
* Rakhim Akhmedov – People's Artist of Uzbekistan (awarded on August 27, 1998)
* Mutal Burhonov – musical composer (awarded on August 27, 1998)
* Zikir Muhammadjonov – actor (awarded on August 27, 1998)
* Nursultan Nazarbayev – President of Kazakhstan (awarded on October 31, 1998)
* Chinghiz Aitmatov – Kyrgyz writer (awarded on December 11, 1998)

### 1999

* Ozod Sharafiddinov – editor-in-chief of the magazine Jahon adabiyeti (awarded on March 22, 1999)
* Salizhan Sharipov – Russian cosmonaut of Kyrgyz descent (awarded on July 29, 1999)
* Buribay Akhmedov – Uzbek scientist (awarded on August 25, 1999)
* Fazila Sulaimonova – leading researcher at the Academy of Sciences (awarded on August 25, 1999)

### 2000

* Gʻafur Gʻulom – Soviet Uzbek academician (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000)
* Musa Tashmukhamedov – Soviet Uzbek poet and writer (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000)
* Abdulla Qahhor – Soviet Uzbek playwright (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000)
* Tuychi Tashmukhamedov – Soviet Uzbek folk musician (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000)
* Mukhitdin Kari-Yakubov – Soviet Uzbek actor and singer (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000)
* Yunus Rajabiy – Soviet Uzbek composer and academician (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000)
* Abror Hidoyatov – Soviet Uzbek theater actor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000)
* Jurahan Sultanov – Soviet Uzbek actor, singer, and composer (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000)
* Mamurjon Uzakov – Soviet Uzbek singer (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000)
* Komiljon Otaniyozov – Soviet Uzbek singer and musician (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000)
* Botir Zokirov – Soviet Uzbek singer, writer, and actor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2000)
* Malik Nabiev – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded on August 25, 2000)
* Halima Nosirova – Soviet Uzbek opera singer (awarded on August 28, 2000)

### 2001

* Lutfi Sarimsoqova – Soviet Uzbek actress (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Mukarram Turgunbaeva – Soviet Uzbek ballet dancer (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Shukur Burkhanov – Soviet Uzbek actor (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Tamara Khanum – Soviet Uzbek actress of Armenian descent (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Sadriddin Ayni – Soviet Tajik writer and scholar (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Maqsud Shayxzoda – Soviet Uzbek poet and playwright (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Mirtemir Tursunov – Soviet Uzbek poet (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Mirkarim Osimov – Soviet Uzbek writer (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Ural Tansykbayev – Soviet Uzbek painter of Kazakh descent (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Chingiz Akhmarov – Soviet Uzbek artist of Tatar descent (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Khoji Abdurasulov – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Mannon Uyghur – Soviet Uzbek actor and playwright (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Maria Kuznetsova – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Abbas Bakirov – Soviet Uzbek actor and theater director (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Usta Shirin Murodov – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Nabi Ganiev – Soviet Uzbek actor, film director, and screenwriter (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Murojon Akhmedov – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded posthumously on August 22, 2001)
* Edvard Rtveladze – Soviet Uzbek academician of Georgian descent (awarded on August 22, 2001)
* Saodat Kabulova – Soviet Uzbek opera singer and actress (awarded on August 24, 2001)
* Oʻtkir Hoshimov – Soviet Uzbek writer (awarded on August 24, 2001)

### 2002

* Khabib Abdullaev – Soviet Uzbek academician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Sodiq Azimov – Soviet Uzbek physicist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* To‘xtasin Jalilov – Soviet Uzbek composer (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Ubay Oripov – Soviet Uzbek academician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Igor Savitsky – Soviet Russian painter and archaeologist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Tashmukhamed Sarymsakov – Soviet Uzbek mathematician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Sagdy Sirazhdinov – Soviet Uzbek politician and academician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Abid Sadykov – Soviet Uzbek chemist and politician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Hamid Sulaimonov – Soviet Uzbek scientist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Olim Xoʻjayev – Soviet Uzbek actor and theater director (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Sabir Yunusov – Soviet Uzbek chemist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Tashmuhamed Kara-Niyazov – Soviet Uzbek mathematician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Yahya Gulyamov – Soviet Uzbek archaeologist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2002)
* Galina Pugachenkova – Soviet archaeologist and art historian (awarded on August 26, 2002)
* Abdukodir Khayitmetov – Soviet Uzbek scientist (awarded on August 26, 2002)
* Valdas Adamkus – President of Lithuania (awarded on September 27, 2002)

### 2003

* Juan Carlos I of Spain – King of Spain (awarded on January 24, 2003)
* Queen Sofía of Spain – Queen of Spain (awarded on January 24, 2003)
* Aleksander Kwaśniewski – President of Poland (awarded on June 30, 2003)
* Vasit Vakhidov – Soviet Uzbek surgeon and scientist (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003)
* Makhmud Mirzaev – Soviet Uzbek scientist (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003)
* Askad Mukhtar – Soviet Uzbek writer and poet (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003)
* Ibrohim Moʻminov – Soviet Uzbek scientist (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003)
* Rahim Pirmuhamedov – Soviet Uzbek actor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003)
* Tolib Sodiqov – Soviet Uzbek composer and conductor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003)
* Saib Khojaev – Soviet Uzbek actor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003)
* Richard Schroeder – Russian and Soviet scientist (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003)
* Shuhrat – Soviet Uzbek poet and playwright (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003)
* Razzoq Hamroyev – Soviet Uzbek actor (awarded posthumously on August 25, 2003)
* Eduard Shevardnadze – President of Georgia (awarded on October 9, 2003)
* Georgi Parvanov – President of Bulgaria (awarded on November 18, 2003)
* Matyakub Koshchanov – Uzbek academician (awarded on December 18, 2003)
* Zhura Musaev – Uzbek academician (awarded on December 18, 2003)
* Yalkin Turakulov – Uzbek scientist (awarded on December 18, 2003)

### 2004

* Khozhikhon Boltaev – Soviet Uzbek artist (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004)
* Muhammadzhon Mirzaev – Soviet Uzbek composer (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004)
* Hamid Olimjon – Soviet Uzbek writer and poet (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004)
* Nabi Rahimov – Soviet Uzbek actor (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004)
* Vsevolod Romanovsky – Soviet Russian mathematician (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004)
* Ayimkhan Shamuratova – Soviet Uzbek actress of Karakalpak descent (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004)
* Sora Eshontoʻrayeva – Soviet Uzbek actress (awarded posthumously on August 23, 2004)

### 2005

* Batyr Valikhodzhaev – Soviet Uzbek academician (awarded posthumously on August 24, 2005)
* Shavkat Rakhmatullaev – Uzbek academician (awarded on August 24, 2005)
* Mamadzhan Rakhmanov – Uzbek academician (awarded on August 24, 2005)
* Yulduz Usmonova – Uzbek actress and singer (awarded on August 24, 2005)
* Zokir Almatov – Uzbek politician (awarded on August 24, 2005)

### 2006

* Pirimqul Qodirov – Uzbek writer (awarded on August 25, 2006)
* Rakhima Mavlanova – Uzbek academician (awarded on August 25, 2006)

### 2007

* Ruslan Chagaev – Uzbek professional boxer (awarded on April 17, 2007)
* Timur Atakuziev – Uzbek scientist (awarded on August 27, 2007)
* Albert Ataliev – Uzbek surgeon (awarded on August 27, 2007)
* Orkhon Makhmudov – Uzbek politician (awarded on August 27, 2007)
* Mahmud Salokhiddinov – Uzbek academician (awarded on August 27, 2007)
* Abdulla Ubaidullaev – Uzbek politician (awarded on August 27, 2007)
* Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow – President of Turkmenistan (awarded on October 17, 2007)

### 2008

* Vladimir Putin – President of Russia (awarded on February 20, 2008)
* Suyima Gʻaniyeva – Uzbek scholar (awarded on August 25, 2008)
* Hashimjon Ismailov – Uzbek director (awarded on August 25, 2008)
* Mirzaatham Rakhimov – Uzbek scientist (awarded on August 25, 2008)
* Artur Taymazov – Russian and Uzbek wrestler and politician of Ossetian descent (awarded on August 25, 2008)
* Valdis Zatlers – President of Latvia (awarded on October 1, 2008)

### 2011

* Munojot Yoʻlchiyeva – Uzbek singer (awarded on August 24, 2011)
* Muyassar Razzokova – Uzbek singer (awarded on August 24, 2011)

### 2012

* Haruhiko Kuroda – president of the Asian Development Bank (awarded on February 16, 2012)

### 2013

* Andris Berzins – President of Latvia (awarded on October 18, 2013)

### 2014

* Azizxon Qayumov – Uzbek scientist (awarded on August 22, 2014)

### 2015

* Ravshan Irmatov – Uzbek FIFA referee (awarded on December 31, 2015)

### 2019

* Bahodir Yoʻldoshev – Uzbek artistic director (awarded on August 28, 2019)

### 2020

* Abdulla Avloniy – Uzbek Jadid poet, playwright, journalist, and scholar (awarded on September 30, 2020)
* Mahmudkhodja Behbudiy – Uzbek Jadid activist, writer, and journalist (awarded on September 30, 2020)
* Munawwar Qari Abdurrashidkhan ogli – Uzbek Jadid author, poet, teacher, and journalist (awarded on September 30, 2020)