Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

No one should tell Belarus what to do and how, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives' Standing Commission on International Affairs Oleg Gaidukevich told the SB. Belarus Segodnya newspaper, BelTA has learned.

“All the issues we have in the country should be handled by ourselves, because no one else will ever take care of us. Unfortunately, a number of countries are openly interfering in Belarus' domestic affairs. This is unacceptable; no one should tell us what to do. We should make every effort to consolidate people. I have an alternative point of view; it is good to have such a point of view. If everyone shares the same view, the country will not advance further. We should resolve all issues through a national dialogue, without intermediaries. We do not need them to handle our domestic political affairs,” Oleg Gaidukevich said.

The MP noted that financing and open support of any political forces from outside, pressure on the country are inadmissible. “It is clear that they will defend the interests of those who pay them, not the interests of our country. We know very well that it is about geopolitics and nothing else, because everyone is acting solely in their national interests. The activity on our western borders will come to no good, this is escalation. Naturally, we will respond to the military buildup at our borders not only domestically, but also as a member of the Union State, the CSTO. Our army should be strong, as in this case there will be no conflicts. The ongoing situation has showed that we have real allies – for example Russia's position looks the most decent for me. Russia says that it will never intervene in our domestic affairs and warns other countries against it,” the MP added.

The development of a uniform distance learning platform will be completed in Belarus by the end of 2020, Education Minister Igor Karpenko told the Belarus 1 TV channel, BelTA informs.

“We are starting the academic year in the usual format. At the same time, we are actively getting ready for all kinds of developments. We were heavily criticized for the lack of a uniform distance learning platform. This is not a panacea; it will not replace the classroom in secondary and vocational school. Nevertheless, we are working on it. By the end of this year, a uniform distance learning platform will be developed. By the way, the option is of interest not only for students, but also for young teachers,” Igor Karpenko said.

At first, the platform will be launched in a test mode. It is supposed to become fully operational on 1 September 2021.

Igor Karpenko informed that the Education Ministry jointly with the Healthcare Ministry developed guidelines for managing the educational process amidst the coronavirus pandemic. “The Education Ministry and the Healthcare Ministry will respond to any difficulties caused the rise of seasonal viral infections on a case-by-case basis. I would like to emphasize that we will recommend that teachers and all people working with children (and children themselves) get vaccinated,” added Igor Karpenko.

In Minsk Oblast, as of the morning of August 24, 97% of the area was harvested, according to the Committee on Agriculture and Food, Minsk Oblast Executive Committee.

In total, 1922 thousand tons of grain and leguminous crops were threshed with an average yield of 40 c/ha.

The leaders are Slutsk region with 159.1 thousand tons of ground, followed by Minsk region - 150.8 thousand tons and Kopyl region - 145.8 thousand tons.

The best in terms of productivity are Nesvizh, Kletsk, Minsk, Dzerzhinsk districts, indicators in the range of 56-67 c/ha.

It is also worth noting that some farms have already completed grain harvesting: Berezino, Kletsk, Molodechno, Myadel, Nesvizh, Starye Dorogi, Stolbtsy and Uzda regions.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko heard out a report of First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov and Finance Minister Yuri Seliverstov on 25 August, BelTA informs.

“The meeting will focus on the implementation of the state budget, local budgets,” the president said at the beginning of the meeting. “First of all, I want you to report on the influence of the budget on the formation of salaries. We agreed that it should be 80% of the average salary in the country for budget-sponsored employees. Of course, the budget has a strong influence on pensions of our people. Pensions are a holy thing.”

The head of state deems it necessary to ensure that pensions make up 40% of the average salary. “Veterans turned out to be the most persistent and reliable people. They are, in fact, the pillars of our statehood in this complicated period. We must take care of them. If we do not take care of them, it will mean that we are not the government, not the state,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Another issue on the agenda was the fulfillment of the state obligations to repay foreign debt. “What is the state of affairs here? If it is necessary to refinance something, we need to think how to do it. If we do not refinance, if we cope with it ourselves, please tell me. Of course, the time is not easy. We have spent huge money on coronavirus treatment, all these so-called strikes, rallies have also put pressure on the economic situation. Nobody is counting the money that is spent on them. The losses have already reached Br500 million, and we still do not know what collateral losses will be,” the president said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko asked about budget revenues, the projected deficit in Belarus and of partners, about the impact of markets' closures on these relations. “What is going on on foreign markets? How is the economy working? In what areas do we receive less than due?” the president asked.

Finance Minister Yuri Seliverstov told reporters in early August that Belarus' state budget may fail to receive up to Br4 billion in revenues due to the situation with oil and due to the slower economic growth amid the pandemic.

The planned budget deficit has been raised from Br900 million to Br2.1 billion. The figure may go all the way to Br5 billion at the end of the year. The finance minister stressed there is nothing extraordinary about it, the move reflects the restructuring of debts of bakery plants to the tune of about Br1.3 billion. Yuri Seliverstov explained that the Finance Ministry has some reserves in Belarusian rubles, which had rolled over from the previous surplus years. The reserves will be used to honor all the commitments as the current revenues go down.

In January-July 2020 the deficit of the central state budget amounted to Br1.4 billion. Revenues totaled Br12.8 billion, with expenses at Br14.2 billion. Revenues were Br1.5 billion below last year's figure. The budget received the planned sums from excise duties (Br1.7 billion), VAT (Br5.8 billion), export customs duties on potash fertilizers (Br883 million).

The state budget failed to get the planned sums from export customs duties on oil and oil products (Br175 million or 13% of the target), profit tax (Br260 million or about 18%), and dividends (Br216 million or about 21% of the targeted amount). The economic downturn had a direct effect on revenues from dividends and the profit tax, the finance minister explained.

The Belarusian air carrier Belavia has extended suspension of air travel to Russia till 14 September, BelTA learned from the website of the airline.

Belavia will not fly to Russia till 14 September (flights to Voronezh, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod have been suspended till 24 October) as Russia has not allowed air travel from Belarus yet.

The airline noted that it has also extended suspension of air travel to Riga and Larnaca till 31 August, to Ashgabat till 1 September, and to all destinations in Georgia till 30 September.

Customers who purchased tickets for these travel dates will be able to apply for a refund or to reschedule the flight till 30 March 2021. Tickets can be refunded and flights can be rescheduled at company's offices and customer service centers.

Just a few days are left before the start of the new academic year, Belarus 1.

In Minsk Oblast, 400 schools and kindergartens were repaired and updated. This year, 12 new institutions of preschool and secondary education will open doors for students and pupils.

Thus, over a thousand children in the village of Kopische, Minsk region, will become new settlers. Updating by early fall is a tradition with a beneficial effect. After all, learning in fresh interiors and with new equipment is twice as pleasant.

A Perseid meteor shower can be observed throughout Belarus in cloudless weather in August.

The Perseids are a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift–Tuttle. The Perseids are a meteor shower that appears to hail from the constellation Perseus in August every year.

Photos by Andrei Pakumeiko

Belarus should kick-start a new academic year, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he heard out a report of Education Minister Igor Karpenko on 24 August, BelTA has learned.

“It is important to keep learning in all times. It will be very bad if we do not get off to a good start. You remember that the closing of the previous academic year was fraught with the coronavirus anxieties in the society, in particular among parents. Those concerns were excessive, as we know see,” the president noted.

“We need to kick-start the academic year whatever the cost,” the Belarusian leader emphasized.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the main reason why he asked the officials to deliver their reports [Vice Premier Igor Petrishenko was also present] was not to hear about achievements, but rather about bottlenecks that have to be addressed in the build-up to the new academic year.

“I earnestly ask you to make sure that there will not be any visible differences between children from wealthy families and children from less wealthy families. We need to help those who need it, in particular poor families and families with many children. Though I really do not know how else to help the latter, as we offer so many benefits for them like no other country in the world,” the president said.

He noted that companies also got involved in helping parents buy school supplies and uniforms. “From agricultural enterprises to industrial giants – everyone helps. Some purchase school supplies for children, others buy uniforms or give some money. Help comes in various forms, however what matters most is that everyone pitched in despite the fact that several thousand people are rambling through the streets and trying to turn the situation in their favor,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to Igor Karpenko, as of 21 February, 96% of schools were ready for the new academic year. “The process is coming to a close. There are no major issues with preparedness of schools. The government allocated funds for that; local authorities also got involved. We are set to open three new schools this year,” the minister informed.

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is considering limiting the use of plastic bags in stores, Olga Sazonova, the head of the waste management, biological and landscape diversity department at the Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, said at a press conference on 21 August, BelTA has learned.

Belarus has initiated work to amend the technical regulation of the Customs Union on packaging safety. “We have initiated amendments to the regulations not only on biodegradable package but also on the use of traditional polymers. For example, there is a proposal to limit the use of PVC labels on plastic packaging. Such labels make plastic bottles unrecyclable. Another idea is to limit the use of thin plastic bags in retail outlets and of expanded polystyrene packaging for food products,” Olga Sazonova said.

The EAEU has set up a working group to look into the proposed amendments. It includes representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission and the EAEU member states. “In addition, we are considering the idea to limit the importation of polymer waste to Belarus within the framework of the Customs Union,” Olga Sazonova added.

BelTA reported earlier that as from 1 January 2021, Belarus will introduce a ban on the use and sale of disposable plastic tableware in public catering facilities, including single-use forks, spoons, knives, stirring rods, cups, plates, straws, containers, boxes, trays, lunchboxes, jars, bottles with exception of packaging for semi-finished products and confectionery.

The national air carrier Belavia has extended suspension of flights to Georgia, BelTA learned from the website of the airline.

All flights to Georgia have been suspended till 30 September.

The airline has also extended suspension of air travel to Riga and Larnaca till 31 August. Belavia will not fly to all destinations in Russia till 31 August (to Voronezh, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod – till 24 August) and to Ashgabat – till 1 September.

Customers who purchased tickets for these travel dates will be able to apply for a refund or to reschedule the flight till 30 March 2021. Tickets can be refunded and flights can be rescheduled at company's offices and customer service centers.