Today at a session of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan (People's Council of Turkmenistan) in Ashgabat, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov conferred the highest degree of distinction — the title of Hero of Turkmenistan with the award of the Altyn Ay Medal to Russian cosmonaut, a native of Turkmenistan Oleg Kononenko, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reports.

The President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, with great respect, spoke about the highest professionalism of our fellow countryman, who made four expeditions to the ISS, went out into outer space five times, and signed the corresponding Decree.

Russian cosmonaut Oleg Dmitrievich Kononenko was born on June 21, 1964 in the city of Turkmenabat of the Lebap Region, where he graduated from secondary school № 15. In 1988, Oleg Kononenko graduated from the National Aerospace University. N.E. Zhukovsky in Kharkov with a degree in aircraft engines.

After graduation, Kononenko worked at the Central Specialized Design Bureau in Samara (Russia). Kononenko began working as an engineer and rose to the rank of lead design engineer. He was engaged in the design of electrical systems of spacecraft.

In 2008, he made his first flight into space at the International Space Station (ISS) as a flight engineer. The astronauts spent 198 days in orbit, conducted dozens of physical, chemical, biological and other scientific experiments, made two spacewalks. In total, he made four flights to the space station, and also broke the record for the total time spent on the ISS, having spent 737 days in space.

Oleg Kononenko — Hero of Russia (2009), holder of one of the highest awards of independent Turkmenistan — the Star of President Order.

Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko has repeatedly noted that he has special feelings for Turkmenistan, where he was born and grew up, proud and rejoiced about achievements of modern Turkmenistan.