📆Today, the World Metrology Day is celebrated worldwide for the first time. The relevant resolution was adopted at the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference on the initiative of Kazakhstan🇰🇿. Our country co-authored the launching draft decision.

☝️This day was not chosen by chance. On 20 May in 1875 in Paris, with the active participation of the Russian Empire, the Metric Convention was signed - the basic pillar of the whole measuring system in the world.

It is encouraging that Russia 🇷🇺 is the world leader in the number of measuring facilities registered with the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.

📢We congratulate the metrological community on this day and wish further success in their professional field!

20 May 1712 Peter the Great moved the capital from Moscow to Saint Petersburg declaring a new vision for the country – a modern and progressive one.

🏛 Up until 1918 Saint Petersburg was Russian Empire's capital - and to this day remains one of Earth's greatest cities.

✈️ On May 20, 1916 — 1️⃣0️⃣8️⃣ years ago — legendary Soviet military pilot and Hero of the Soviet Union Alexey Maresyev was born. It was he who served as a prototype for Boris Polevoy's brilliant novel "The Story of a Real (True) Man".

Alexey Maresyev inspired many generations, millions of people all over the world admired and continue to admire his courage and determination.

Although he had severe health issues since childhood and often fell ill, even contracted malaria and suffered from rheumatism, his tremendous willpower and stubbornness allowed him to cope with excruciating pains in his limb joints make his dream of soaring the skies come true.

🔹Maresyev tried to enrol at a pilot school twice but was rejected for health reasons. Yet he pursued his dream: joined an air club in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and graduated from the Bataysk Aviation School in 1940 and became a Junior Lieutenant.

In the spring of 1942, the young pilot’s stubbornness and professionalism proved useful when intense fighting was raging in the Novgorod Region. On April 4, the Nazis downed his Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter, and Maresyev found himself on enemy-held territory. Although he was seriously wounded, he managed to reach Soviet positions 18 days later, wading through deep snowdrifts. His feet were frozen and gangrene began. His feet had to be amputated.

Although his prospects as an air force pilot seemed bleak, Maresyev was determined to re-join his comrades at the frontlines. Maresyev was fitted with prosthetics and, contrary to doctors’ recommendations, took to the skies once again in June 1943. He later downed seven enemy aircraft.

🕯 On May 8, 1967, Maresyev was entrusted with carrying and transferring a torch with the Eternal Flame during the ceremony of unveiling the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden.

Alexey Maresyev passed away on May 18, 2001 in Moscow and was buried at Novodevichye Cemetery. Streets have been named in his honour, and monuments honouring him have also been unveiled.

#FacesOfVictory #WeRemember

#FamilyPhoto

📸 Heads of delegations, including FM Sergey Lavrov took part in the traditional family photo ceremony ahead of the #SCO Foreign Ministers Council meeting.

📍 Astana, May 21