"This award has been made to Andrzej Wajda in recognition of his huge contribution to Polish and global cinema," Medvedev said in a televised ceremony in Poland, "Your work is very valued and liked in our country, I'm convinced the work, which was largely inspired by the events of World War II, will further stimulate the best minds in our countries to live together in agreement and friendship."

The Russian parliament last month openly blamed Stalin for the 1940 massacre of 22 000 Polish officers. The communists blamed the crime on the Nazis after World War II. Wajda's 2007 film Katyn is based on the the tradegy and its cover-up. His father was among those who perished in the massacre. The film has been screened in Moscow and on Russian State television. Wajda has also directed theatre in Moscow and has long enjoyed a highly respected place among the Russian cinema public.

Medvedev is on a two day state visit to Poland and the Russian president has been greeted warmly by the Polish public. Relations between the two countries have improved after the mutual mourning following the crash of the late president Kaczynski's plane that was heading to a commemoration of the massacre.