It was created on July 2, 1992 by Law of the Russian Federation № 3183-I[1] in the wake of the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt in Moscow to recognise the courage of the civil resistance members.

The Medal "Defender of a Free Russia" is awarded to citizens of the Russian Federation, foreign citizens and stateless persons for their courage in defending the constitutional order during the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, for merit in the implementation of democratic transformation, economic and political reforms, the strengthening of Russian statehood, and for contributions to the solution of national problems.

Below the image, the relief inscription on three lines "Defender of a Free Russia" (Russian: "Защитнику свободной России").

The award serial number is etched between the image of the barricades and the inscription just right of center revealing the red brass core of the medal.

The first medals "Defender of a Free Russia" were posthumously awarded to Dmitry Komar, Ilya Krichevsky and Vladimir Usov[4] who died during the events of August 19–21, 1991.