On May 25, 2021 in the Bulgarian Embassy in Helsinki was held a ceremony of awarding the Order of the Madara Horseman to Päivi Blinnikka for her personal contribution to strengthening and development of the bilateral relations and on the occasion of her final departure from the Republic of Bulgaria after the end of her term as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland and representatives of the Finnish-Bulgarian Friendship Society.

The state award was handed over to Päivi Blinnikka by Nina Simova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Finland, who presented the decree for awarding Blinnikka a state order and gave a short speech. Chairman of the Finnish-Bulgarian Friendship Society Tapani Salonen also delivered a short speech.