Major Alexander Dmitriyev and Captain Ramazan Taglanov were undergoing treatment in the hospital after being wounded while performing their duties.
The President gave Mr Dmitriyev and Mr Taglanov government decorations, the Medal for Bravery, thanked them for their courage and bravery, and wished them a quick recovery and return to active duty.
Mr Dmitriyev and Mr Taglanov took part in an operation on March 11–12, 2004 near the village of Obilnoye to eliminate a group of militants. The police tried to stop the cars of gunmen as they passed, but the militants opened fire and killed several officers.
The abandoned cars were found with explosive devices, 40 kilogrammes of an explosive mixture of saltpetre and aluminium powder in bags, four kilogrammes of RDX, and a grenade.