MOSCOW, 13 April (BelTA) – The Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia has approved a law to let the Roscosmos State Corporation involve Belarusian specialists and companies in the Vostochny Cosmodrome construction project, BelTA has learned.
During the consideration of the document by the upper house, it was noted that the Roscosmos State Corporation would be able to engage Belarusian specialists and legal entities founded by Belarus or its citizens and set up in the legal form prescribed by the legislation of Belarus to work on the territory of Tsiolkovsky, Amur Oblast.
The order and conditions of involvement of Belarusian organizations shall be established by the president of the Russian Federation and the Russian government.
In 2019, the Roscosmos State Corporation suggested that Belarus should consider the possibility for its construction companies to participate in the construction of facilities of the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur Oblast. During 2020-2022, work has been conducted with the Russian side at various levels to develop a legal framework for the participation of Belarusian construction companies and specialists in the construction of the cosmodrome facilities. On 5 April 2022, after reviewing the proposal with the relevant federal agencies, the Russian president submitted the corresponding bill to the State Duma. It was adopted by the lower house on 6 April.
As BelTA reported earlier, during the visit to the Vostochny Cosmodrome together with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 12 April Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said that the future participation of Belarusian specialists in the construction of the cosmodrome proved the highest level of trust from Russia. Belarus and Russia will together develop the infrastructure of the cosmodrome which guarantees the Union State independent access to space.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus welcomed Russia's decision to let Belarusian companies work at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. “This is a very strong step. In Soviet times the Belarusian school was a beacon for the builders of the entire Soviet Union. The country was practically destroyed after the war. A lot had to be rebuilt according to those modern technologies. Not only dwelling but also large industrial facilities. We preserved that. We have large private companies and very powerful state construction trusts which not only build on a turnkey basis, from scratch, but also have their own facilities for the production of building materials,” the president said.
He also stated that Belarus is ready to send its builders and specialists for the development of the Vostochny Cosmodrome on a short notice. One of the workers asked when to expect constructors from Belarus at the cosmodrome. “They will be here as soon as you need them,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
