The phrase is somewhat common, yes, but it's not related to April 12 or Gagarin in any way. It is about the decline that happened later, not about Gagarin. Apri

The phrase is somewhat common, yes, but it's not related to April 12 or Gagarin in any way. It is about the decline that happened later, not about Gagarin. April 12 is a happy day for most Russians, and ex-USSR people in general. It saddens me to see how current Russian government (de facto Russian government, I should add) uses the achievements of the past to promote their own agenda though.