The Government on Wednesday approved the list of winners of the 2017 National Awards, IPN reports.

National Awards for Science were given to the following doctors and university professors: Dragoș Vicol, for researching phenomenology in culture; Gheorghe Baciu, for his contribution to the National Service of Legal Medicine; Dmitrii Parmacli and Alexandru Stratan, for researching the economic potential and efficiency of agriculture; and Gheorghe Postică, for researching medieval civilizations and for his studies to preserve cultural heritage.

National Awards for Culture and Art were given to the following laureates: author and translator Teodor Chiriac, for his literary achievements; composer Leon Ştirbu, for lifetime achievements; musician and singer Iurie Sadovnic, for lifetime achiemevements; theater director and actor Alexandru Cozub, for the originality of his plays and for innovative theatrical management; and film director and screenwriter Igor Cobileanschi, for his substantial contribution to the quality of Moldovan film.

Olympic champion Larisa Popova got a National Award for Sports for her lifetime achievement and for promoting the Olympic movement.

The National Awards are offered annually by the Government in recognition of remarkable accomplishments in various areas. The selection is done through secret vote by a commission composed of the Moldovan Prime Minister, Ministers and heads of relevant governmental agencies, artists and members of the academia. The Award comes with a money prize of 100,000 lei.