Putin: A Russian spacecraft will carry a Belarusian astronaut to the International Space Station

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that "a Belarusian astronaut is preparing for a space flight to the International Space Station next spring," according to the TASS news agency. He stated during a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Russian-Belarusian Union, "A Belarusian astronaut is currently being prepared for a space flight to the Russian segment of the International Space Station. This flight is planned for spring of this year."