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Since 1 January 2025, Belarus has hosted 204,118 travelers from 38 countries included in the visa-waiver program, with most of them arriving from neighboring Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, BelTA learned from the State Border Committee.
“A total of 1,235,854 European residents have visited Belarus since 15 April 2022. They included 397,687 visitors from Latvia, 656,164 people from Lithuania and 128,056 visitors from Poland. On 19 July 2024 the visa-waiver program was extended to include 35 more countries. A total of 53,947 citizens of these countries have visited Belarus,” the State Border Committee informed.
The border committee also recalled that the head of state extended the visa-waiver program for citizens of 38 European countries. Foreigners will be able to come to Belarus without a visa until 31 December 2025.
There can be no country without science, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the government conference held on 21 November to discuss the development of the domestic science and the performance of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, BelTA has learned.
“There can be no country without science. And today, science is of the utmost importance. Are you ready for this? If so, let’s get down to work, without ambition or pretense!” the head of state said. “Our society has reached a point where, without science, there will be no further development. We will fall behind, we will decline, and we will be trampled by those who follow us.”
The head of state emphasized that now, not only strategy but also tactics are vital. “It is a time for concrete action. Because time has chosen us. And no one will do it for us. We cannot pass this ‘legacy’ to our children,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
Mexico’s Fatima Bosch, 25, was crowned Miss Universe 2025. The grand finale of the prestigious pageant took place in Thailand on 21 November, BelTA has learned.
The representative of Mexico was crowned by last year’s winner Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark.
Completing the top five were first runner-up Praveenar Singh (29, Thailand), second runner-up Stephany Abasali (25, Venezuela), third runner-up Ahtisa Manalo (28, Philippines), and fourth runner-up Olivia Yacé (27, Ivory Coast). The competition’s top 12 also featured contestants from Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, China, and Malta.
Belarus was represented by 18-year-old Alena Kucheruk from Polotsk, the winner of Miss Belarus 2025. The Miss Universe pageant is one of the world’s most prestigious annual international beauty competitions.
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko heard a report from Head of the Belarus President Administration Dmitry Krutoi on 20 November, BelTA has learned.
Oversight over the situation in agriculture was one of the topics covered by Dmitry Krutoi’s report. “We have all the manufacturing facilities under the roof but in the countryside everything is outdoors. This is why I instructed you yesterday to get in touch with all the authorized representatives, aides, and oblast governors. People will be called to account harshly. Simply harshly. No verbal pyrotechnics and philosophy. Proper preparations ahead of the winter are necessary,” the head of state stressed.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko pardoned two Catholic priests convicted of serious crimes against the state, BelTA has learned.
This decision was made taking into account the intensification of contacts with the Vatican, as well as the principles of goodwill, mercy, and the Jubilee Year proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church.
In a statement published on the official website of the Roman Catholic Church, the press service of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Belarus expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the release of the imprisoned priests: Father Genrikh Okolotovich and Father Andzej Yukhnevich.
The statement noted that thanks to the head of state and representatives of the Apostolic See, the momentum in bilateral relations based on traditional values, fraternity, religious tolerance, and respect for believers has been maintained.
The Roman Catholic Church in Belarus welcomes the positive trends in the state’s international relations and the strengthening of contacts with the Vatican.
“We are pleased with the visit of Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, special envoy of Pope Leo XIV, to Belarus in October 2025 and with the agreements reached. Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti has been a long-time friend of the Republic of Belarus, who has done a lot for the Catholic Church in our country, for the development of state-church relations and interfaith dialogue. His visit gave a positive impetus to further contacts, an important result of which was the decision of the president of the Republic of Belarus to pardon and release Catholic priests serving sentences in detention as a sign of mercy and respect for the Pope,” the statement reads.
It is stressed that direct and significant role in this process was played by Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in the Vatican Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus is Ignazio Ceffalia, and Head of the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus Archdiocese Iosif Stanevsky.
The statement also noted that, in proclaiming the Jubilee Year of Christianity in 2025, Pope Francis, in his Bull of Indiction Spes non confundit (Hope does not disappoint), called for the Holy Year to be embraced as a time of forgiveness, in accordance with the Church's historic tradition.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has extended greetings to veterans and service members of the Missile and Artillery Forces as the country celebrates Missile and Artillery Forces Day, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.
“The date of 19 November 1942 is forever inscribed in the history of our country and is closely linked to the start of the Red Army's victorious offensive at Stalingrad, which marked a radical turning point in the course of the Great Patriotic War,” the head of state said. “The current generation of missile and artillery troops in the Armed Forces of Belarus continues and enhances the glorious combat traditions of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers. I am convinced that, while maintaining constant combat readiness, daily honing your professional skills, and mastering advanced equipment, each one of you is ready at any moment to stand in defense of the country and its people.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed his gratitude to the veterans who dedicated many years of their lives to serving the Fatherland and continue to work with young soldiers, passing on their rich experience and knowledge. “I thank you all for loyalty to your profession and your military duty,” the message of greetings reads.
The president wished the service members good health, wellbeing, firmness of spirit, and resilience, as well as new successes in their military service for the benefit of their native Belarus.
Only freight trucks are queuing at the border to enter Poland, the State Border Committee told BelTA.
The busiest route for trucks entering the European Union is through the Polish border crossing Kukuryki (Kozlovichi on the Belarusian side) where 690 vehicles are lining up. In one day, it cleared 44% of the standard number of trucks. Thirteen trucks are waiting to enter Poland via the Bobrowniki border crossing (Berestovitsa on the Belarusian side). In one day, Poland cleared 8% of the standard number of trucks.
The State Border Committee reported that there were no queues for passenger vehicles at the EU border as of 10.00 in the morning, 19 November.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko held a meeting to discuss the development of the Pripyat Polesie districts and the implementation of the corresponding program on 18 November, BelTA has learned.
"The agenda of our meeting was set long ago: the development of Polesie until 2030," the head of state said. "Let me remind you that this program is one of the president’s key election promises to the Poleshuks [the people of Polesie]. The election took place long ago. That does not mean we have done nothing there. A great deal has already been accomplished."
The president noted that he sees tangible results in Polesie this year. “But these are only small first steps. There is a huge amount of work ahead,” warned the Belarusian leader.The head of state said that he had recently inspected all districts of Polesie. He now has a comprehensive picture of how local residents cultivate and manage their land.The Polesie development program until 2030 covers nine districts with a population of 350,000."On the one hand, in implementing this program we must clearly identify and understand the measures to be carried out both within its framework and beyond, so that the Poleshuks, and indeed all of Belarus, can see that we are genuinely committed to its development. On the other hand, we must always keep in mind whether the financial resources are available to bring these measures to life," the Belarusian leader noted.
In this regard, he emphasized that reports should avoid "excessive Soviet-style approaches," cautioning against allocating funds without visible results. "What is needed are concrete measures and enterprises that will create new jobs, although that is not the foremost priority today, and ensure the long-term development of Polesie for centuries to come," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed."Everything must be carefully calculated, verified, and most importantly, bring economic returns in the long run. Especially when it comes to budgetary funds. There is no extra money in the country," the president stressed. "The program’s measures must be concrete and follow a simple algorithm: we must define the goal, set specific tasks, and act to achieve results. I warned you about this. As I am informed, overall you have optimized them [the tasks]. Yet they remain insufficiently funded, and the financial gap is significant.”The head of state pointed out that about Br400 million is lacking, or 6% of the total funds allocated for the program (around Br6.5 billion). In this regard, the president asked for a clear answer to the key question: which financial sources will be used to implement the planned measures, and what specific initiatives those funds will support.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that oversight of the program’s implementation will be carried out by a true Polesuk Mikhail Rusy. He serves as aide to the president - inspector for Brest Oblast and Chairman of the Standing Commission on Legislation and State Building of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus.He addressed several specific aspects of the Polesie development, one of which is the natural challenges that demand comprehensive, systemic solutions and, in some cases, major investment projects. Brest Oblast and Gomel Oblast today vividly demonstrate the effects of climate change. In this context, constant droughts, the shallowing of rivers, and the decline of reclamation canals, phenomena virtually unseen three or four decades ago, have become common references. “This is precisely that ‘Soviet-style approach’. We keep repeating in the old way: ‘The river is shallow, that is bad, this is bad…’” the head of state said.
Leader of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania Mindaugas Sinkevičius has stated that the border with Belarus is highly likely to reopen before 30 November, according to Lithuanian media reports.
The statement was made during a meeting of Lithuania’s National Security Commission, which discussed the situation with trucks stranded in Belarus.
A day earlier, Mindaugas Sinkevičius said that “the most appropriate and optimal solution that meets the interests of all carriers and companies” would be made at the National Security Commission meeting on 18 November.
The leader of the Social Democrats noted: “We are hopeful the situation will normalize, though it remains fluid. Our strategy combines consistent, on-the-ground work by forensic, border, customs, and police units with political and diplomatic steps. These are not just assumptions, but a concerted effort to prevent a similar situation from recurring.”
“We are acting from the perspective of our national policy,” Mindaugas Sinkevičius said after Poland reopened two border crossings with Belarus on 17 November.
Head of the Lithuanian Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy Remigijus Motuzas stated that the Lithuanian government would make a final decision on reopening the border with Belarus on 19 November. Vilnius is inclined to do it before the originally planned date of 30 November. Remigijus Motuzas noted that the border crisis is much more serious than previously thought. Not only Lithuanian carriers, but also Central Asia, China, and other countries are dissatisfied because supply chains are disrupted.
The Lithuanian National Road Carriers’ Association (LINAVA) believes that Belarus did not make mistakes in this situation, and that Lithuania should have caught smugglers with balloons on its own territory instead of closing the border.
Representatives of the Lithuanian and Belarusian border services are holding negotiations today regarding the situation at the border.
On 29 October the Lithuanian government authorized closing the border crossings with Belarus till 30 November. The border crossing Šalčininkai (Benyakoni on the Belarusian side) was closed to all traffic while the border crossing Medininkai (Kamenny Log on the Belarusian side) is still open to individuals, for whom exceptions have been made.
Reality will force Poland and the Baltic states to build normal relations with Belarus and Russia, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Governor of Russia's Rostov Oblast Yury Slyusar on 17 November, BelTA has learned.
“The Lithuanians are now demanding to open the border. We never closed it. We have never been hostile towards the Poles, Lithuanians, or Latvians. They are our neighbors; it’s not like we can do anything about it. Yes, they are currently being managed from the outside,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “You know, reality will force them to... New leaders will eventually come to power who, like before, will see the strategic importance of Belarus and Russia. What was the point in losing those markets and such good relations?”
Speaking about decisions that have harmed Lithuania, the head of state cited the closure of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant as an example. “When they scrapped the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant under the guise of a green economy, we warned them: ‘Don’t do it, you will need it’. But they closed it, destroyed it, and it was plundered. And they tried to interfere with our construction of this station [BelNPP],” the president emphasized.
The Belarusian leader further noted that during the construction of the nuclear power plant in Belarus, he had invited Lithuanian specialists who found themselves unneeded in their own country. “We were building it, and I invited Lithuanian specialists (they had a problem in Lithuania): ‘Come to our station, we will work together’. Especially since we were in need of personnel. They thought we couldn’t manage without them. We, together with the Russians, solved this problem. Around 3,000 people work at our plant, and we will need another 1,000 for the third power unit,” the president said.
