Awards have been presented at the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly for contributions to organizing the Train of Memory 2026 project and the 13th Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, BelTA has learned.
Honorary certificates, letters of commendation from the chairperson of the Council of the Republic, and commemorative medals were awarded to 35 representatives of government bodies and organizations. All of them contributed to the successful execution of the events.
The Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia was held in Minsk and Minsk Oblast on 25-26 June. On its sidelines, contracts worth over Br1.7 billion were signed, nearly twice as much as the previous forum’s total. “Cooperation with Russian regions is a key focus for us; Russia is our main export destination. The forum preparation took several months. We took a responsible approach to this event and created good conditions for the work of two sections. We also signed a number of agreements with Russian partners that will deepen existing ties and increase supply volumes,” said BelAZ Director General Sergei Lesin, who was among the award recipients.
The Train of Memory project was initiated by the heads of the Council of the Republic and the Federation Council. This year, it brought together 200 representatives from the peoples of the former Soviet republics and young people from countries of the anti-Hitler coalition - nations that achieved a common victory over Nazism in 1945. This year, the participants visited Brest, Grodno, Mogilev, Vitebsk, Polotsk, Gomel, Zhlobin, Minsk, St. Petersburg, Moscow, and other cities. They visited sites historically connected to the Great Patriotic War, including the Brest Hero Fortress, Khatyn, the Mound of Glory, the Peski Tract memorial complex in Polotsk, Monument to Children - Victims of War in the village of Krasny Bereg, and others.
In 2026, the project was held for the fifth time. “The participants were brought together by the unique opportunity to visit places of military glory in both countries. They were able to experience an unforgettable atmosphere and establish bridges of friendship and interaction. The project pursues a great goal, uniting youth for the sake of the future. This year, 12,000 tenth-grade students applied to take part in this memorable journey, of whom 57 were selected,” said Viktor Filipenko, a consultant with the Department of Educational and Social Work at the Education Ministry of Belarus.
