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Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has congratulated the staff of the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts on the 50th anniversary of the educational institution, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.
“For generations, your educators have built this university into a beacon of learning, renowned throughout Belarus and beyond. Today, you proudly carry that legacy forward, mentoring the artists and cultural leaders of tomorrow. Your graduates are passionate, skilled professionals who enrich our national culture, drive the evolution of Belarusian art, and proudly represent our homeland on the world stage,” the message reads.
“I have no doubt that your path forward will be marked by the same dedication, fruitfulness, and success,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
The president of Belarus wished everyone good health, happiness, and inspiration.
Türkiye is interested in Belarus’ experience in implementing the principles of democracy at elections, Chairman of Türkiye’s Supreme Election Council Ahmet Yener said at the 2nd International Electoral Forum in Minsk on 8 October, BelTA has learned.
Ahmet Yener recalled that the day before the Central Election Commission of Belarus and the Supreme Electoral Council of Türkiye had signed a memorandum of cooperation and described the event as a historic step. “Our organizations will now act within the framework of the agreement to further develop democratic values in elections,” he said.
According to him, the international conference “Building legal culture as a factor for harmonious and sustainable elections”, held as part of the forum, will help chart the future course for democratic development in elections. “The participants will exchange opinions. We will deliver a report on how the electoral process is carried out in Türkiye. We will receive comprehensive information on how this process is conducted in Belarus and will be able to use the experience of other CIS countries, which will also participate in today’s event,” Ahmet Yener said.
Türkiye aims to ensure the highest possible voter turnout and comprehensive coverage of election results. “We witnessed how democratic principles were put into practice in the 2025 presidential elections in Belarus,” the chairman said and added that the cooperation will continue to advance.
Belarus and Oman intend to open embassies in Muscat and Minsk. This statement was made during a meeting between Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman, BelTA has learned.
“Yesterday, Mr. President, you proposed to open embassies in Minsk and Muscat. We welcome this idea,” the Sultan of Oman said.
In response, Aleksandr Lukashenko stated: “We have made a decision. And we will definitely implement this plan. It is a purely pragmatic step. Not because we are old friends, but because it is pragmatic. We are launching serious trade and economic cooperation. And the ambassadors will serve as the driving force behind the development of our cooperation here.”
The Central Election Commission of Belarus and the Supreme Election Council of Türkiye have signed a memorandum of cooperation, BelTA has learned.
The document was signed by Chairman of the Central Election Commission Igor Karpenko and Chairman of the Supreme Election Council of the Republic of Türkiye Ahmet Yener.
According to CEC Secretary Yelena Baldovskaya, the signing of the memorandum will facilitate bilateral professional relations with Turkish colleagues. “This will undoubtedly involve, first and foremost, the exchange of experience in organizing and conducting election campaigns, the application of potential technologies during elections, and- echoing the general theme of the forum - studying methods of public engagement, possibly even adopting best practices in the organization and execution of election campaigns,” she stated.
Similar documents have already been signed with Russia and Uzbekistan. Work is underway on the draft memoranda with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and a number of other countries.
The bilateral meeting is taking place within the framework of the 2nd International Electoral Forum, which will be held in Minsk on 8 and 9 October.
“For us, the forum is becoming a wonderful tradition. Participants are arriving today. These are representatives of central electoral bodies from CIS member states and countries beyond the CIS, and also members of the academic community and youth, given that the overarching theme of the forum is dedicated to legal education and raising awareness in the field of electoral law. Today, the Central Election Commission will host the first meeting of the Youth Council. Tomorrow, the central event of the forum will be panel discussion and also thematic sections, and a roundtable. Its participants will discuss the most pressing issues and challenges in shaping the legal culture of voters,” Yelena Baldovskaya informed.
The forum will run a panel discussion on shaping the spiritual and moral foundations of legal culture. On Thursday, the program features an open dialogue with the participation of representatives of the Central Election Commission and the Education Ministry.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has congratulated People’s Artist of Belarus Yuri Troyan on his 75th birthday, BelTA learned from the Belarusian leader’s press service.
“You have dedicated your lifetime to arts, making a profound impact on Belarusian choreography and ensuring the preservation and enrichment of our national ballet tradition,” the message reads.
Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that Yuri Troyan’s teaching work commands the highest respect: “Your experience and skill offer our talented youth an exemplary model of devoted service to culture and homeland.”
The president wished the People’s Artist of Belarus good health, further success, and boundless inspiration.
Since 1 January 2025, Belarus has hosted 181,601 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 1,213,337 European residents have visited Belarus since 15 April 2022. They included 389 536 visitors from Latvia, 650,334 people from Lithuania and 122,998 visitors from Poland. On 19 July 2024 the visa-waiver program was extended to include 35 more countries. A total of 50,469 citizens of these countries have visited Belarus.
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. Detailed information about the visa waiver is available in the special section on the website of the State Border Committee and the Border of Belarus app.
Belarus will impose a ban on repurposing of agricultural land, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during his working trip to Soligorsk District, BelTA has learned.
The head of state noted that no new lands from the agricultural land pool will be allocated for construction or plots as it is a valuable resource. This is especially true given that there are many abandoned and unused plots in small communities. “Plow everything and clear up what is not needed,” he instructed.
Regarding the use of agricultural land for other purposes, Aleksandr Lukashenko stated: “It is out of the question. These might be isolated cases for some investments. Forests and agricultural lands. Next year, a total ban will be imposed on repurposing of agricultural land. It is absolutely unacceptable.”
A Belarusian delegation led by Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Karankevich and Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia Aleksandr Rogozhnik has arrived in Russia’s Kemerovo Oblast (Kuzbass) on a working visit, BelTA has learned.
The delegation met with Kemerovo Oblast Governor Ilya Seredyuk to discuss cooperation between Belarus and Kuzbass. As the governor noted in his Telegram channel, the parties agreed to implement joint educational programs to train specialists to work with modern Belarusian machinery. In particular, the plans include advanced training courses and practical placements for students of specialized universities and colleges.
“We also agreed on uninterrupted supply and service support for Belarusian mining, road maintenance, agricultural, and construction machinery within the framework of a multi‑brand center in Belovo. In turn, we will ensure the supply of in‑demand agricultural products from Kuzbass enterprises to the Belarusian market. Belarus is ready to purchase our rapeseed. A trial batch of 9,000 tonnes of oilseeds has already been delivered to the country,” Ilya Seredyuk noted.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has approved a draft protocol on amending the agreement between Belarus and Russia on military-technical cooperation dated 10 December 2009. The head of state signed relevant decree No.353 on 1 October, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.
The document has been approved as a basis for negotiations. The Belarusian State Authority for Military Industry has been authorized to conduct negotiations on the draft document and sign it following consideration by the Government of Belarus.
One day after school, eighth-grader Alesia Gavrilenko saw a brief ad on social media: “Who wants to become a model? Put a ‘+’.” Intrigued, she did so. To her astonishment, she soon received a message from a Minsk model agency, asking her to send her photos and measurements.
To verify the agency’s credibility, Alesia’s father visited their Minsk office, where he reviewed their official permits and certificates. Once reassured, Alesia signed a three-year contract and began her career with a basic portfolio shoot. Her parents then secured permission from her school for the two-month absence the new endeavor required.
During her winter break, Alesia embarked on her first modeling assignment abroad. The sprawling, bustling metropolis of Seoul was a world apart from her native village of Streshin and even the streets of Minsk, striking her as immense, noisy, and utterly foreign.
For her first show, Alesia modeled jewelry from a world-renowned brand for a wedding magazine. The work was demanding, requiring her to hold a single, elegant pose for extended periods – a tiring task, as she later admitted. The shoot was momentarily interrupted when her watch slipped from her wrist and clattered to the floor. Security guards, tasked with protecting the valuable pieces, rushed to inspect it for damage. Fortunately, the watch was fine, and the shoot continued with rings and earrings from the same brand. Ultimately, Alesia’s debut as a model was a success, landing her first photos on the cover of a prominent magazine.
Upon returning to Streshin two months later, Alesia promptly made up for her missed schoolwork, finishing ninth grade with good marks. Her second work trip took place the following winter during her tenth grade. These milestones are now commemorated in a special display at home, featuring the magazines she has appeared in, her professional badges, and the names of her client brands.
At just 14 years old, Alesia used her first modeling paycheck to make a surprising purchase: a cow. Then another. Now, the Gavrilenko family has a full herd – a dozen dairy cows, plus bulls and calves.. Her mother Galina manages the milking with a machine, while Alesia, true to her roots, still knows how to care for the animals herself.
Though her modeling career has taken her abroad, Alesia Gavrilenko’s ambitions are firmly anchored in Belarus. She is currently pursuing a correspondence degree in international law at MITSO International University – a pragmatic choice over her schoolgirl dream of architecture, as she considers a good diploma an essential safety net.
