On April 10, a ceremonial evening dedicated to Cosmonautics Day and the 65th anniversary of the first human spaceflight took place in Brussels. The event was organized by the Embassy of Russia in Belgium and the Russian House in Brussels with the participation of diplomatic missions from CIS countries.

The evening brought together a wide range of guests, including heads and staff of diplomatic missions from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Venezuela, Egypt, Indonesia, China, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, South Africa, representatives of the Belgian public, as well as Russian compatriots.

Opening the event, the Ambassador of Russia to Belgium, Denis Gonchar, подчеркнул the global historical significance of Yuri Gagarin’s flight and noted that this breakthrough became possible thanks to the combined efforts of scientists, engineers, and designers from all republics of the Soviet Union.

“The first human spaceflight is not only the feat of Yuri Gagarin, but also the result of the tremendous work of thousands of specialists from different republics. Even today, space remains one of the few areas where dialogue, mutual respect, and the pursuit of common goals are preserved,” the diplomat noted. He also expressed hope that the experience of cooperation in the space sector will serve as a model for developing international collaboration in other fields.

The evening program included a screening of the documentary film “A Star Called Gagarin” and a presentation of exhibitions under the general title “The Attraction of Earth and the Freedom of Space.”

Particular interest among guests was drawn by video greetings from cosmonauts Yuri Lonchakov, Andrei Borisenko, Sergei Ryazansky, Ivan Bucha (Belarus), Salizhan Sharipov (Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan/Russia), and Aidyn Aimbetov (Kazakhstan). In their messages, they emphasized the importance of Gagarin’s feat for the development of global space exploration and for inspiring new generations.

The highlight of the evening was the ceremonial unveiling of a bust of Yuri Gagarin on the grounds of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Brussels.

The musical atmosphere of the celebration was enriched by a performance by Belarusian-Belgian pianist Timur Sergeyenia, a video by Russian guitarist and composer Valery Didyulya, as well as the “anthem” of Russian cosmonauts — the song “Grass by the House” by the band Zemlyane.

The event took place in a warm and solemn atmosphere, reminding attendees that space exploration remains an important symbol of international cooperation, scientific progress, and goals that unite humanity.

As part of the event’s cultural program, a series of exhibitions was officially opened. Guests were presented with the photography exhibition “Amazing Earth” by cosmonaut Sergey Ryazansky, featuring unique shots of our planet taken from the International Space Station. Also debuted was the art exhibition “My Cosmos” by Irina Yakimenko, which explores the concept of space as both an external environment and an internal human dimension. Rounding out the display is the exhibition “Energy of Space” by artist Sergey Kraynev, whose works reflect themes of the Universe, scientific progress, and the evolution of manned space exploration.