On April 12, on Cosmonautics Day, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov met with a Russian test cosmonaut, a native of Kyrgyzstan Sergei Korsakov. The Kyrgyz leader warmly congratulated him on his professional holiday and noted that Kyrgyzstan is always happy to welcome the famous compatriots for whom their small homeland is a close and dear country, the press office of the President of Kyrgyzstan reports.
Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome, Korsakov noted that he was very glad to be again in his native Bishkek.
Korsakov said he had taken the flags of Kyrgyzstan and Bishkek from his personal belongings on board of the International Space Station.
Korsakov gave President Japarov the flag of the Kyrgyz Republic with the stamp of the ISS that had been in outer space as a gift. The cosmonaut handed over space photos, including those of Issyk-Kul Lake.
In conclusion, the President of Kyrgyzstan invited Russian cosmonauts to recreate in the places on Issyk-Kul Lake where Yuri Gagarin had recovered after the flight.
