Tunisian president to visit Russia for space launch amid US criticism

Tunisian President Kais Saied is due to visit Russia soon as a female Tunisian astronaut prepares to journey to the International Space Station on the Russian space shuttle Soyuz.

The Tunisian leader's forthcoming visit to Moscow, which will take place despite Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, comes amid US criticism of his rule.

Tunisia's ambassador to Moscow, Tarek Ben Salam, told Russian news agency Sputnik, "we are now working to ensure the Tunisian president visits Russia as soon as possible".

"This visit may take place on the occasion of a [female] Tunisian astronaut's participation in a mission from Russia to the ISS," he added, without mentioning specific dates.

In August last year the private Tunisian telecommunications company Telnet signed a contract with the Russian space agency to choose and train a Tunisian woman astronaut for a mission to the ISS at the end of 2022 or beginning of 2023.

Saied's proposed visit, however, comes at a time when the US and the EU have imposed stringent sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which has killed thousands of people and displaced millions more.

In June last year, Saied sacked former Prime Minister Hichem Michechi and suspended the Tunisian parliament in a power-grab. He later arrested dozens of political opponents and dissolved the parliament.

On Thursday US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Tunisia needed to address concerns on democracy if it wants much-needed aid.

Blinken said that Tunisia needed to go ahead with parliamentary elections promised before the end of the year.

The country's economy, which is heavily dependent on tourism, has suffered badly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.