Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

At the second session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress, Belarusian President and Chairman of the Belarusian People’s Congress Aleksandr Lukashenko asked Valentin Sukalo, who headed the Supreme Court of Belarus for a long time, to keep sharing his expertise to help develop the country’s legal system, BelTA has learned.

Andrei Shved, who until now served as Prosecutor General of Belarus, was elected as new Chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus.

“I would like to address special thanks to Valentin Sukalo. He has carried this responsibility (I remember and know this) since the Soviet times. You are a worthy person," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“I have one strong wish: that the new person in this position takes all the best from you. But, most importantly I wouldn’t want you to distance yourself far from the Supreme Court. We will talk about this later,” the president said. “You have always had your own opinion. You are not only a practitioner but also a good theorist. We always turned to you when we needed to solve this or that problem, not only concerning the courts but also law in our country. Thank you very much. We will do all we can to keep you actively involved in our society. Your experience and insights will always be a resource we turn to.”

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Andrei Shved, the former Prosecutor General of Belarus, has been elected Chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus. The decision was made unanimously through an open vote at the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress on 19 December, BelTA has learned.

Belarusian President and Chairman of the Belarusian People’s Congress Aleksandr Lukashenko congratulated Andrei Shved on his new role, describing him as a decent man who has proven his merit. “What is remarkable is that not a single member of the security bloc, no matter how hard we pressed them or checked them, has said a single negative word about this man,” the head of state added.

The former head of the Supreme Court, Valentin Sukalo, has been relieved of his duties. The head of state expressed particular gratitude to him for his many years of service.

“Valentin Olegovich, you are a man of honor. My only wish is that the new appointee will draw on the best of your experience. We will speak again, as I would ask you not to distance yourself from our Supreme Court until the transition is complete. And even then, we will still be interested in your perspective. You are not only a practitioner but also a good theorist,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized. 

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Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko congratulated the employees and veterans of the state foreign trade enterprise Belspetsvneshtechnika on its 30th anniversary, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.

“In a relatively short span of time, Belspetsvneshtechnika has established itself as an integral component of the national defense-industrial complex and a formidable export entity, earning a reputation as a reliable and competent partner well beyond Belarus. This achievement is a direct result of the efforts of those who built the enterprise’s foundations and those who, through their dedicated work today, make a vital contribution to advancing military-technical cooperation and strengthening our state’s security,” the president stated.

He expressed confidence that the Belspetsvneshtechnika team will continue to successfully accomplish all assigned tasks and that the company’s role in promoting domestic products will only increase. “May every project be a success, and may you have as many reasons for pride as possible,” the message reads.

Aleksandr Lukashenko wished the company’s employees good health, peace, prosperity, well-being, and continued professional success for the benefit of Belarus. 

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The national social and economic development program must place a strong emphasis on the youth, a delegate of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress, a member of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Marina Lenchevskaya said on the air of the Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA has learned.

Commenting on the significance of the five-year national development plan, which is to be adopted at the Belarusian People’s Congress for the first time, Marina Lenchevskaya noted that having a long-term perspective is a good thing.

“We also had five-year development plans during the Soviet times, and it yielded positive results. We set a goal, map out clear indicators, and then steadily progress towards it. In modern independent Belarus, we also follow five-year plans, but I would like to emphasize that the program we are approving today for five years adds more layers to the foundation of our state. Overall, this program is not just for five years, it is a long-term strategy,” the delegate said.

Marina Lenchevskaya emphasized that the goal of this program is comprehensive and it stems from the need to build a self-sufficient, competitive state with a human-centered approach. “We must do everything for the people. By the way, the priorities stated in the program today fully correlate to this concept. For example, demographic security is a very necessary thing for us. It is important to support the family, that there are more Belarusians, but it is also very important that our Belarusians understand that this problem is solved not only through state financial support, but that it is also a worldview issue. Belarusians must understand, especially the younger generation, that our numbers should grow. Only then will Belarus live and have a future. Another thing I really like in this program is the youth topic. The youth of today are the contemporary face of our society. They challenge stereotypes and drive new trends. Young people dream a lot, their dreams turn into projects, and they are ready to implement these projects. We must make the youth our priority. It is very important that the program sets a target: 15% of managerial positions must be held by young people. We should not shy away from giving them leadership opportunities. However, young people themselves should realize that reaching senior roles requires climbing the career ladder step by step, starting from the bottom. Therefore, I think that the youth has a great future, and it is wonderful that in the social and economic development program we are making a bet on the development of youth policy,” Marina Lenchevskaya said.

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Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed Decree No. 437 “On the insurance of crop harvest, livestock and poultry in 2026,” the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.

The document approves the list of crops, livestock, and poultry, and the tariffs for their mandatory insurance with state support for 2026. The decree also defines compensation rates for two key scenarios: the loss of crops (covering reseeding costs) and the loss or forced slaughter of animals (due to death, disease, or other causes).

The decree aims to provide insurance coverage for agricultural producers.

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The new away stretch for HC Dinamo Minsk in the regular championship of the 2025/26 Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) began on a losing note, BelTA has learned.

Returning to action after a two-week hiatus, the Minsk Bisons traveled to Yaroslavl to take on the reigning KHL champion Lokomotiv. The guests were chasing the game from the third minute onward. A penalty for putting the puck over the glass by Kristian Khenkel proved costly, as HC Lokomotiv Yaroslavl scored on the resulting man advantage in a mere 15 seconds. The home side added another midway through the period, but Xavier Ouellet gave Minsk a lifeline with a goal late in the first to make it 1-2.

After a goalless middle frame, the Minsk Bisons struck back at the beginning of the third with Alex Limoges’ power-play goal to make it 2-2. With the score still level after 60 minutes and overtime, the contest was settled from the penalty spot, with the Yaroslavl side showing better composure. As a result, HC Dinamo Minsk lost 2-3. The score mirrored their previous encounter on 29 September. The outcome, however, was reversed: in the first game, it was the Minsk Bisons who held their nerve in the shootout.

The defeat snapped the five-game winning streak of HC Dinamo Minsk. The team remains in third place in the Western Conference standings with 48 points. The second and final match of the away series for Dmitri Kvartalnov’s squad will be in Yekaterinburg on 18 December, with the game against HC Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg scheduled for 5 p.m. Minsk time.

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On behalf of the Belarusian people and himself, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has sent National Day greetings to the King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and to the people of the country, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

In his message to the King, Aleksandr Lukashenko stated: “This holiday unites the people of your country in their commitment to strengthening statehood, preserving traditions, and further developing their homeland. Today, under your wise leadership, the Kingdom is confidently moving forward along the path of socioeconomic growth, improving its international standing and the quality of life of its citizens.”

The president emphasized that Belarus highly values its friendly relations with Bahrain, which are founded on principles of trust and mutual respect. “We are ready to add new substance to our relations and implement joint projects aimed at ensuring food security and promoting sustainable progress in both countries,” he assured.

In his separate message to Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Belarus views Bahrain as an important partner in the Gulf region. “I am confident that further expansion of bilateral cooperation and the implementation of joint projects in industry, investment, science, and technology will contribute to strengthening the ties between our peoples,” he added. 

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In The Honest Story project on BelTA’s YouTube channel, refugee from Latvia Roman Samul reflected on why the Belarusian political system is better than Latvia’s. 

When asked about living in a so-called “dictatorship” after his relocation, Roman Samul responded: “I am not yet (and this is important) a citizen of Belarus. Speaking as someone from the outside, I am entirely satisfied with the situation here.”

“We are ordinary people; we do not fully grasp why certain things are being done or what their consequences will be. We all live in the present. It is the role of politicians to think about the future and the well-being of the citizens of the country,” he explained. “I understand much of what the Belarusian government is striving for. I am quite content with that. I appreciate your attention to your historical legacy, i.e. what happened and what could happen if we forget about it. This is very important.”

Comparing political systems, Roman Samul noted that in Latvia, the president is not directly elected by the people: “In Latvia, the president is chosen by a closed assembly of party officials. They deliberate privately, reach a decision within a day or two, and we, the public, learn who has become our new head of state the following morning.”

“Take Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, who initiated the intense wave of Russophobia in Latvia. She actually arrived from Canada. She had no idea of what was happening in Latvia. She is an ethnic Latvian whose parents fled in 1944–1945, and we understand her background. That entire aggressive political era began with her,” he added.

In contrast, he emphasized that in Belarus, “the president is elected by all people. You can freely go and vote for your chosen candidate.”

Roman Samul continued: “What I value here is that people elect their representatives, and those representatives truly work for the people’s interests. Whatever promises are made, they are expected to fulfill them during their term and work toward those goals. There is a genuine effort to improve things through new legislation.”

“If you look at politics in Latvia, it is frankly a disgrace. When bills reach the Saeima (the parliament of Latvia), these documents are in English and are sent off for translation. They are some 18 pages long. They are distributed just half an hour before being voted on, whether to pass or reject them. It is an absolute rigmarole because the legal language is complex and a lot of things are deliberately obscured. Most members of parliament have only a secondary education; maybe one or two hold a law degree. How can they possibly understand what this bill is about, whom it serves, and whether or not it harms the people who elected them? They vote unanimously based on the party leader’s instruction. And typically, any bill handed down from Brussels is passed without question,” he stated.

“Your political system functions effectively. In Latvia, if you want to achieve something, you can write inquiries, requests, and proposals to any member of parliament. By law, they are obliged to reply within, say, 15 business days. But in reality, you receive meaningless replies. They don’t even read your letter, they simply pass it to a secretary with instructions to ‘send a response,’” Roman Samul noted.

By way of comparison, he shared an experience from Belarus. A friend of his who had moved to Belarus could have been returned to Latvia, which she didn’t want, as it was not safe for her there. 

“She contacted the relevant authorities, and the issue was resolved. The migration department even convened an inter-ministerial meeting to hear directly from migrants about the challenges they face. Here, authorities listen to you,” said Roman.

He observed that much has changed in recent years to ease the transition for those moving to Belarus from abroad. “When a migrant from Latvia relocates, they often cannot get their diploma recognized because there are no diplomatic relations with Latvia. Belarusian authorities send inquiries, and Latvia simply ignores them. It was decided that either references and work experience could be accepted as proof of qualification, or examinations would be conducted here to validate the diploma. This is now accepted,” Roman Samul explained. “If someone has no family ties or money to buy property, they can come here, get a job at a state enterprise or collective farm, sign a five-year contract, and their employer can immediately apply for a residence permit on their behalf. That’s beyond amazing. In what other country would you be taken care of like that?”

“And that is what’s truly compelling, actually. The very attitude that ordinary people are treated with respect here and that they are heard,” concluded Roman Samul. 

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The development of trade and economic relations is a priority in the cooperation between Belarus and Iran, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Minsk on 15 December, BelTA has learned.

The head of state noted that Belarus and Iran have no issues in their political and diplomatic relations. “However, I believe you will agree that the foundation of everything is the economy, trade, and economic relations. In this regard, we can do a great deal together, to put it mildly,” the Belarusian leader said.

“The economy is our top priority,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.

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The second session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress will take place in Minsk this week, on 18-19 December. Preparations for this large-scale forum have been long and thorough. It was initially expected to be held in the spring; however, there is no need for haste in such matters, as treating such events, and this is one of the most important political events in the life of our country, as a mere formality is a path to nowhere. The Belarusian People’s Congress is set to approve the program for the country’s social and economic development for the next five-year period. Belarusian head of state Aleksandr Lukashenko will address the Belarusian people and parliament. Furthermore, delegates will need to resolve a number of personnel matters. What is known about the upcoming session, how do the authorities view the immediate future of the country, and what danger did the president warn about? We have gathered the key points about the event in this article.

The history of the Belarusian People’s Congress

The Belarusian People’s Congress needs no introduction. However, it was only a couple of years ago, in February 2022, that it received constitutional status, transforming from just a platform for brainstorming and discussing prospects into the highest representative body of people’s power in Belarus. Decisions of the Belarusian People’s Congress are now mandatory for implementation and can override legal acts of state bodies and officials if they contradict national security interests, with the exception, of course, of acts by judicial bodies.

The first Belarusian People’s Congress was held in 1996. It was a time of economic chaos and political conflict. Life demanded urgent decisions, and at that time, only the people had the right to decide their own fate, as Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.

However, there is an opinion that the history of the Belarusian People’s Congress began long before that. Historian Igor Marzalyuk recalled the ancient Belarusian veche, our age-old tradition of popular governance.

“The veche was a popular assembly, though participation was not universal. Initially, only adult married men with full legal capacity, who defended their country when necessary, meaning they bore arms, and owned property could participate. It’s important to understand that these were primarily heads of households. Later, representatives of the most important and significant clans took part. But the most crucial aspect was that this veche represented all strata, all groups of the free population (in this case, of the Polotsk land),” he explained.

Who becomes a delegate to the Belarusian People’s Congress

According to the law, the maximum number of delegates to the Belarusian People’s Congress is 1,200. These individuals are primarily representatives from all branches of government, local Councils of Deputies, and civil society, i.e. various social strata and groups within the country.

In this structure, representatives from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of power, as well as deputies of the Minsk City Council of Deputies, are delegates to the Belarusian People’s Congress by virtue of their positions. Representatives from other local Councils of Deputies, as well as from civil society, are elected in the manner prescribed by law.

You can read about the individuals of the Belarusian People’s Congress, the ordinary people, in our dedicated section of the same name. We considered it important to introduce you to those who represent our country’s interests, to share their values, views, and what motivates the people involved in shaping Belarus’ future.

What was discussed at the first session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress

The first session of the 7th Belarusian People’s Congress was held in April 2024. Notably, this forum was conducted for the first time in its new status as a constitutional body, which determines the strategic directions for the development of society and the state and ensures the inviolability of the constitutional order, the continuity of generations, and civic accord.

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