Hero of Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation, instructor-test cosmonaut, commander of the cosmonaut corps of the State Space Corporation “Roscosmos” Oleg Kononenko congratulated President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the New Year.

“I request you to accept the most sincere, heartfelt congratulations on the New Year 2022, which Turkmenistan met in an atmosphere of peace, harmony and confidence in the future,” says the letter of the Russian cosmonaut addressed to the head of state, published today in the “Neutral Turkmenistan” newspaper.

The message emphasizes that “the proclaimed motto of the year - “The era of the people with Arkadag” became a reflection of the unity and cohesion of the country, the readiness of the Turkmen people to continue to move forward together with their recognized leader, to new victories and achievements in creative state building, strengthening international authority Turkmenistan, the fulfillment of all the goals and tasks set by you for the year.”

“I remember with special warmth my meetings with you, which always serve as a source of humanity, wisdom, far-sightedness, and strategic state thinking for me.

I hope to meet you in the new year, I will be glad to be back in my blessed homeland - in Turkmenistan.

May 2022 bring you and your family good health, a lot of joy and success, and my fellow countrymen - Turkmen citizens - a peaceful sky, prosperity, new outstanding achievements under your wise leadership,” O. Kononeko’s letter says.

Oleg Dmitrievich Kononenko was born on June 21, 1964 in the city of Turkmenabat, Lebap velayat, where he graduated from secondary school No.15. In 1988 he graduated from the National Aerospace University. Named after N.E.Zhukovsky in Kharkov on the profile of aircraft engines.

In 2008, Kononenko made his first space flight to the International Space Station (ISS). In total, he made four flights to the space station, and also broke the record for the total time spent on the ISS, spending 737 days in space. And on December 11, 2018, he went out into open space for the fifth time to inspect the skin of the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft, the duration of the exit was 7 hours and 45 minutes. The total duration of the five spacewalks was 32 hours and 13 minutes.

Hero of Russia (2009) and Turkmenistan (2019) Oleg Kononenko is a holder of one of the highest awards of independent neutral Turkmenistan - the Order of the “President's Star”, which was presented to him in 2009 by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.