A Russo-Japanese War Medal in light bronze. Comes with an original piece of ribbon. Very good condition.

The Russo-Japanese War Medal or Medal in Memory of the Russo-Japanese War was a medal issued by the Russian Empire to those who had fought in the Russo-Japanese War and to nurses, medics, priest and other civilians who had distinguished themselves during combat operations. It was established on 21 January 1906 by Nicholas II of Russia and was initially intended to be awarded as follows:

1. The silver medal is awarded to the following persons who were permanently or temporarily in Port Arthur and its fortified area in the period after the Jin-Zhou battle (May 12, 1904) until the end of the siege (December 20, 1904): 1). To all ranks of the military and naval departments, the border guards and the Kwantung squads of volunteers. 2). Ranks of other departments, if they were in Port Arthur, during the siege, according to the duties of the service. 3). Priests, doctors and other medical officials, orderlies and sisters of mercy who served in the military and naval departments, in the Red Cross Society and in other medical institutions that provided assistance to sick and wounded soldiers, and 4). Residents of Port Arthur, who participated in the defense of this city. 
2. The light bronze medal is awarded to the following categories of persons, if they participated during 1904-1905 in one or more battles against the Japanese on land or sea: 1). Generals, officers and lower ranks of the military and naval departments, as well as the ranks of the State Militia, Border Guards and volunteers who were in the troops and special squads. 2). In general, all class and medical ranks, priests, orderlies and sisters of mercy, as well as persons who do not belong to the military rank, if during the battle they performed their duties with parts of the troops and detachments, as well as on the ships of the fleet that took part in it. 3). Persons of all classes who were awarded the insignia of the Military Order or a medal with the inscription “for bravery”. 
3. A dark bronze medal is assigned to all who did not take part in the battles, but are in the service in the active armies and in the institutions attached to them, as well as in units Offices and institutions of the military and naval departments located during the war - from January 26, 1904 to December 1, 1905, i.e., on the day the peace treaty was ratified, in the Far East and along the Siberian and Samara-Zlatoust railways, in areas declared under martial law, namely: 1). To all ranks in general: military, naval, border guards and militia. 2) Priests, doctors and other medical officials, orderlies and sisters of mercy who served in the military or naval departments, in the border guards, the Red Cross Society and in all medical institutions that provided assistance to the sick and wounded in the area of military operations; persons who do not belong to a military rank, if these persons were on duty with the troops and medical institutions. 3). Various ranks of the military, maritime and civil departments, as well as female persons who were at various departments and institutions for service, as well as seconded to their locations. 4). Freely hired servants from retired and reserve lower ranks and those from civilians who did not belong to the military rank, who were with the troops who directly acted against the enemy, who showed military distinctions, and in general to persons of all classes who during the war with Japan had any special merits, according to the award of these persons by the authorities of those troops and institutions in which they were at that time <...> are not entitled to receive <...> medals: a). those under trial or investigation, if, at the end of the proceedings against them, they will be subject to exclusion from the military or naval departments, and b). contracted scribblers and civilian employees.