The President’s message reads, in particular:
“The upheavals of the Civil War forced you to leave your native land but, like the heroes of your book, Bizert. Last Stop, you have devoted yourself throughout all these years abroad to Russia, to preserving its spiritual and historical heritage and maintaining national traditions.
You are an example of steadfast spirit and convictions, civic courage and moral strength. These qualities have enabled you to gain recognition and particular honour in the Russian community in Tunisia. Your considerable services to our homeland and your many years of selfless labour are widely known in Russia and the world.”
Anastasia Shirinskaya is the only surviving witness today of the evacuation of the ships from the Black Sea squadron from the Crimea to the town of Bizert during the Civil War in Russia.
Mrs Shirinskaya contributed greatly to preserving the historical legacy and memory of the Russian seamen who found themselves in Tunisia (she described their fate in her book, Bizert. Last Stop). It is in large part thanks to her efforts that two Russian Orthodox churches are functioning in Tunisia today. Mrs Shirinskaya always refused to take foreign citizenship and in 1997 she became a citizen of the Russian Federation. In 2003 she was awarded the Order of Friendship.