Cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky is a frequent visitor to Belarus. Shortly before Cosmonautics Day he visited Minsk.

We would like to remind the reader that Oleg Novitsky is actively involved in the activities of the Belarusian Peace Foundation and together with Belarusian cosmonaut, Hero of Belarus Marina Vasilevskaya, who is the Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Foundation and its honorary member, took part in the launch of the project «Strong in Spirit». The project resulted in paintings made by special needs children. Cosmonauts also created their paintings. Natalia Gagarina, the native niece of the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who became a visiting card of the Soviet Union, also visited the meeting with members of the Board of the Belarusian Peace Foundation, heads of regional branches of public organizations, heads of the main religious confessions. It is hard to overestimate his peacemaking role, according to Maxim Misko, Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Peace Foundation, as Yuri Gagarin showed sincere love to people of all nations and peoples, strived to preserve peace on earth, being a simple and charming person.

It is a great honor for the Belarusian Peace Foundation to have two heroes, two cosmonauts, who are already ambassadors of peace by default, on its board. By the way, on the same day Oleg Novitsky, as well as Marina Vasilevskaya, was awarded the highest award of the Belarusian Peace Foundation — the medal «Honored Peacemaker». Natalia Gagarina was honored to receive the medal «In the name of peace, friendship and goodness».

Oleg Novitsky admitted that he was very glad to get involved in the work.

— I will be very glad! And by doing so, to expand, let’s say, the range of my opportunities. We are doing the same thing in Russia. I will be glad that I can officially work here.

 Speaking about his direct participation in the activities of the Foundation, Oleg Novitsky noted that he will be engaged in public work as long as he has free time. Besides being a citizen of the Russian Federation, he is also an active cosmonaut. Oleg Novitsky said that he passed the medical examination and thinks that in the near future he will be assigned to another space flight.

— I will be limited in time, but to the best of my ability I will be able to lend a shoulder in any endeavor, — he said.

Valentina Zhdanovich