Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed decree No.101, which approves the first optional protocol to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons for the sake of consequently serving their sentences. The convention was passed on 6 March 1998, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.

The protocol was signed by the heads of state of the CIS member states in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 10 October 2025. It provides for charging an authorized representative within the competent authority of each country with the responsibility for prompt interaction on matters related to the transfer of convicted persons to serve their sentences based on the principle of citizenship.

The protocol defines the powers of this official, the procedure for exchanging information, and other measures that will significantly expedite the completion of the formal procedures stipulated by the Convention.

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Vitebsk military unit 5524 celebrated the 108th anniversary of internal troops with a flower ceremony on the Alley of Heroes, an exhibition of equipment and weapons, BelTA has learned.

The celebrations began with a commemorative rally at the Alley of Heroes. Guests laid flowers at the portraits of Soviet soldiers who contributed to the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders, and at a star commemorating soldiers of the unit.

Then representatives of the regional authorities, law enforcement and public were showed the weapons and equipment at the disposal of the unit."Times, names and structure of the internal troops may change but people who serve here remain loyal to their work, duty, and oath. Today, the internal troops are a highly mobile, well-coordinated military organization in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which, given its level of equipment, training, and staffing, can perform any task. The internal troops are a reliable source of sovereignty, independence, constitutional order and territorial integrity of our Motherland,” Colonel Aleksandr Usmanov, commander of the 7th Separate Special Police Brigade, told the media.

He emphasized that great attention is paid to the development of the military-patriotic movement. “This year, the military-patriotic clubs based at the police brigade will celebrate their fifth anniversary. At the moment, there are five military-patriotic clubs that train about 580 students annually. Today, graduating students receive certificates and enroll mainly in military and police universities of catering to the interests of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Defense Ministry," Aleksandr Usmanov said.

One of the most famous patriotic-military clubs is Vityaz. "It enrolls 280 children from more than 40 educational institutions in Vitebsk. To join the club every student takes an interview. Working with students is an integral part of the internal troops’ activities. The kids are members of our large and friendly family and are welcome guests at any event. The most important thing is that the guys really like classes at the club, they improve their skills. I can see that they are doing better at school, becoming more self-disciplined. Almost 100% of our students enroll in military and police universities. We watch their progress, academic success, help, give advice and recommendations, and constantly keep in touch with them,” head of the Vityaz club Denis Svirid said.Belarus President’s Aide - Inspector for Vitebsk Oblast Vladimir Yurgevich took part in the celebration. He congratulated the servicemen and praised their high contribution to the education of the younger generation.

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Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko heard a report from Agriculture and Food Minister Yuri Gorlov on 18 March, BelTA has learned.

The two main sections of the report delivered to the head of state focused on the start of the spring field work and, first and foremost, the sowing campaign as well as export sales of Belarusian food.

The head of state was informed that the sowing of early spring crops had already begun in most of the country except for Vitebsk Oblast due to peculiar natural and climatic conditions in this northern region. High readiness rates of vehicles and machines had been secured. It will allow doing the necessary amount of work within an optimal timeframe.

The report as a whole also touched upon plans to sow other crops. Special emphasis is made on corn during the current season. Aleksandr Lukashenko reaffirmed his earlier instructions for agrarians to secure a gross cereal yield at least on par with last year’s.

As for the export of food, Yuri Gorlov told Aleksandr Lukashenko that positive trends are shaping up. An increase has been registered in comparison with 2025. Dairy products and meat products of Belarusian make enjoy steady demand. The minister remarked that taking into account the current prices on the global market all the chances are available for securing a food export figure this year that exceeds last year’s record high.

Active work is in progress to expand the geography of export shipments. Belarusian foods are now shipped to a total of 117 countries across the globe at present.

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Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Natalya Petkevich held a meeting with Russian President’s Special Representative for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy on 16 March, BelTA learned from the government’s press service.

The parties discussed pressing issues of bilateral cultural and humanitarian cooperation (including in light of upcoming anniversaries of cultural and artistic figures), mutual participation in international events of relevant focus, and other projects for cultural cooperation between Belarus and Russia for the medium term.

Mikhail Shvydkoy has arrived in Belarus to participate in the events of the 33rd Minsk International Book Fair.

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Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed the law on leasing activities, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.

The document provides for comprehensive regulation of leasing within the framework of a unified regulatory legal act taking into account the practice of applying provisions of presidential decree No.99 on regulating leasing activities of 25 February 2014.

The law regulates leasing operations, including with residential premises; requirements for the form and the content of financial leasing contracts; the authority of the National Bank in the field of regulating leasing operations and in the field of overseeing the observance of legislation; the main rights and obligations of lessors and lessees.

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Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has made a decision to provide humanitarian assistance to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

The decision follows Hanoi's request for assistance after a series of devastating natural disasters struck Vietnam in 2025, causing significant loss of life and destruction. 

The Republic of Belarus will send aid to the fraternal Vietnamese people, guided by the principle of humanism and the strategic partnership relations established between the two countries. 

The head of state has instructed the Emergencies Ministry to coordinate the effort. 

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Moscow is hosting the first Ministerial Conference of the International Organization for the Russian Language (IORL). Belarus is represented by Education Minister Andrei Ivanets, BelTA has learned.

Opening the conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the Russian language is one of the most widespread languages in the world, including in the digital space, where it ranks second after English in the number of internet sites and social media accounts. Russian is an official or working language in a number of international organizations, including the UN. “It plays a great constructive role in bringing academic exchanges closer. Bolstering the global standing of the Russian language is, unequivocally, a cornerstone for preserving the planet's cultural and civilizational diversity and a key contribution to a more just, multipolar world order," he said.

The conference gathered representatives from the founding member states of the International Organization for the Russian Language. The organization was formed following the decision of the leaders of Belarus, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, who signed the relevant treaty in Bishkek on 13 October 2023.

According to Sergey Lavrov, the organization is open to all interested nations - both within Eurasia and beyond. “It is essential that the International Organization for the Russian Language integrate time-tested multilateral cooperation tools with contemporary approaches capable of engaging the younger generations of our countries,” he stressed.

The decision on the admission of new members will be made by the organization’s ministerial conference, which will be convened on a regular basis at least once a year. Extraordinary sessions may also be held at the initiative of any party to the treaty, supported by at least two-thirds of the other countries. The Governing Board will meet at least twice a year. In addition, extraordinary meetings may also be held at the initiative of any of its members, supported by at least one-third of the other members.

The inaugural conference adopted a package of administrative and financial documents to establish the organization’s secretariat and launch its operations. The conference participants expect that the organization and its secretariat will begin practical activities as of 1 April 2026. The secretariat will be headquartered in be the city of Sochi (Sirius Federal Territory). Additionally, the conference elected Natalya Bocharova, former Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Secretary General of the International Organization for the Russian Language.

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The All-Belarusian campaign ‘We are citizens of Belarus!’ dedicated to Constitution Day launches at the Constitutional Court in Minsk on 9 March, Svetlana Pavlenina, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Belarusian Youth Union BRSM, told BelTA.

“The campaign will focus on 14-year-old boys and girls - representatives of all regions and the city of Minsk. A total of 25 people. The passports of citizens of the Republic of Belarus will be presented to the young people by Chairman of the Constitutional Court Sergei Sivets and First Secretary of the BRSM Central Committee Vladimir Pavlovsky. “Traditionally, the young people also receive symbolic gifts during a ceremony. The event participants will receive a signature box containing the Constitution and the state flag and an educational puzzle map - a set of magnetic elements made in the shape of the territorial units of our country.”

First launched by the BRSM in 2004, this patriotic initiative has grown immensely popular among young people and has rightfully become one of Belarus’ cherished traditions. The official passport ceremony celebrates teenager’ coming of age, reinforcing their new status as full citizens of Belarus with corresponding responsibilities to the state and its laws. Belarus annually celebrates Constitution Day on 15 March. The Constitution establishes the foundations of state power and public life, guarantees citizens’ basic rights and freedoms, and outlines the principles of a democratic, social, and legal state. It also plays a key role in shaping the civic identity and national character of Belarusians.

The campaign will run in all regions of Belarus on 9-15 March.

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Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko heard a report from Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov following his visits to African countries – Togo and Ghana. The discussion broadly covered the development of cooperation with nations on the African continent, BelTA has learned.

“Africa is the future. You probably understand this more than anyone else in our country. So, tell me briefly about your latest trip, we will discuss it more later: what we managed to accomplish in Africa, and which areas and countries we are ready to develop ties with now today. But most importantly, we must remember that we are not an empire, we are not the Americans, to think we can cover the whole continent. We need to have footholds, starting points from which we can work in the countries that are of interest to us. That is the key,” the Belarusian leader stated.

“I often cite Oman [as an example]. From the territory of Oman, you can work across all of East Africa. Especially since they have good connections there from past times. They know how to trade, we need to cooperate with them, they will invest. Especially in the current situation, when nobody needs this [U.S.] dollar anymore. They understand the way things are going. They are investing significantly, spending money,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.

The president noted that Belarus has broadly identified its key partners in various parts of Africa. In the north, for example, these are Egypt and Algeria. “I think Libya will get back on its feet,” the head of state said.

In the east, as previously mentioned, there is an opportunity to work with a number of countries with the help of Oman.

In southern Africa, Belarus has begun cooperating well with Zimbabwe, and there is a possibility of involving Mozambique in this process.

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The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus will promote cooperation with China’s Xidian University (aka Xi’an University of Electronic Science and Technology), BelTA has learned.

Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Aleksei Trukhanov met with a delegation of Xidian University led by the head of the Integrated Circuits Department Gang Xiao at premises of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus on 6 March. The parties discussed a broad range of matters concerning promising avenues of bilateral cooperation in science and technology, including in the field of semiconductors and microelectronics.

Photo courtesy of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

During the meeting the Academy of Sciences was represented by Academician-Secretary of the Department of Physics, Mathematics, and Informatics of the National Academy of Sciences Aleksandr Shumilin, Director of the B.I. Stepanov Physics Institute Sergei Gaponenko, Director General of the State Scientific and Production Association of Optics, Optoelectronics and Laser Technology Maksim Bogdanovich, and other people.

The Chinese delegation went on a tour of the permanently open exhibition that showcases the R&D products of the Belarusian science that have been assimilated by the manufacturing sector. The program of the visit also includes a trip to OAO Minsk Research Institute of Radiomaterials.

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