Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

Belarusians have made serious progress in communicating the truth about the country's history, Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova said at the seminar “The Republic of Belarus: From the origins to the present (historical path of state building)”, BelTA has learned.

“Obviously, the decision to declare 2022 the Year of Historical Memory was an important milestone for the formation of the historical policy of the contemporary Republic of Belarus, it was also important for the development of the Belarusian statehood in general,” said Natalya Kochanova.

According to the speaker, over the past year, the Belarusians joined efforts to make serious progress in preserving the historical memory and communicating the truth about the history of Belarus. First of all, this pertains to the period of the Great Patriotic War. It was one of the events that shaped the national identity of the Belarusians and became an integral part of the national idea.

“As clearly as ever we realized that it is not enough to win. We should defend the victory and the right to independently choose our own future. We stepped up efforts to get the international community to recognize and condemn the genocide of the Belarusian people, and to strengthen good friendly contacts between descendants of the winners,” Natalya Kochanova emphasized.

The international parliamentary conference “Historical Memory: The Great Victory Gained by Unity” brought together parliamentarians from Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, representatives of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, government agencies, academic and expert communities. The conference was a great opportunity to speak up and share thoughts on this matter.

In 2022, the Council of the Republic jointly with the Federation Council of the Russian Federation launched the youth patriotic project “Memory Train”. This project is expected to take root and thrive attracting new participants. This year children from five countries of the Eurasian Economic Union are to take part the project; in 2024 children from 10 countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States are expected to participate, and by the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory participants from 15 former Soviet republics who defeated fascism will join in.

Natalya Kochanova also recalled that with the help of Russian colleagues, Belarus buried the remains of Belarusian pilot Stepan Kovalenko found in Gelendzhik in the pilot's homeland - Beshenkovichi District.

The seminar was organized by the Council of the Republic together with the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus, the National Center of Legislation and Legal Research.

The seminar is hosted by the Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the President of the Republic of Belarus.

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Belarus is putting together an interdepartmental commission to work with citizens wishing to return to their homeland, Belarusian Prosecutor General Andrei Shved told reporters, BelTA has learned.

"The decision has been made: an interdepartmental commission will be set up and headed by the Prosecutor General. The commission will include representatives of the public and government bodies, MPs. Those who want to return home but are wary of doing so will have the opportunity to apply (information will be posted in all media outlets) to the commission and get appropriate information regarding the presence or absence of any claims from the government to this particular person," Andrei Shved said.

The Prosecutor General stressed that the commission will work with each citizen individually. It is expected that the interdepartmental commission will start working soon: a corresponding draft presidential decree is being developed. The head of state instructed to prepare the document as soon as possible. It will be possible to apply to the commission in any convenient form. The president's main requirement is to give people a chance.

"Many people are not accused or charged with anything. But they have been, figuratively speaking, brainwashed heavily and have started to imagine things. Therefore, they should contact us and learn that they are facing no charges and can safely return home and live a peaceful life. It's one category of people. Another category includes people who suspect or know for sure that what they did was illegal. We will double-check all the information. If they indeed have committed crimes or are suspected of committing them, there are legal mechanisms to deal with them. If they repent what they did they can, for example, appeal for pardon. There are other ways. This is within the law," the head of the supervisory authority explained.

“Positive decisions will be made in regard to persons who did not commit crimes, who did not attack the constitutional order, who repented and really want to return home and live a peaceful life in our country. Even with regard to those who have committed crimes ad who have repented we will make decisions in every individual case (we have enough legal mechanisms). Everyone will be given a chance to return home and live peacefully. But, if a person committed a crime, a decision will be made in accordance with the law, as in any other legal state," Andrei Shved added.

As BelTA has reported, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko hosted meeting to review the social and political situation and the crime rate in Belarus on 24 January. One of the topics was the work with citizens who left Belarus after the 2020 events but want to come back.

“Everyone who wants to mend their ways and make amends should have a chance for leniency. This applies only to those who deserve this forgiveness. Those who deliberately broke the law, endangered human lives, continue destructive activities against our country with the support of Western intelligence agencies will be held accountable. We have brought the law into line and toughened it quite a bit. After all, some of those who fled (they need to provide for themselves somehow) have been radicalized and now they rely on the use of force and the creation of illegal paramilitary formations. In this case there is no returning home and there will never be,” the president said.

“We need to figure out what people have really revised their views and want to live peacefully, study and work, and who do not. Yet, we should not lose sight of the fact that some of them might take advantage of our conciliatory gesture and inflict some damage. It is also in the interests of intelligence services of foreign states, especially our close-door neighbors who are mean-spirited towards us (they are acting worse than countries that are further away from our borders). Therefore, our task is to apply an individual approach to everyone and to take fair decisions,” the Belarusian leader demands.

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The science and technology exhibition Intellectual Belarus impresses with its diversity, Head of the Belarus President Administration Igor Sergeyenko told the media during his visit to the exhibition on 22 January, BelTA has learned.

“The exhibition of scientific and technical achievements of our country is impressive. It features developments of academic science together with manufacturing and universities in various sectors, such as machine engineering, robotics, agriculture, healthcare and humanities. Many young scientists are involved in this work,” said Igor Sergeyenko.

According to him, the exhibition is attended by many young people, representatives of universities, schools, military educational institutions, as well as ordinary Minsk residents. “I paid attention to the interest with which people approach the exhibits and ask questions,” he noted.

Igor Sergeyenko stressed that such an exhibition should be held on a regular basis. “The main thing is to have something to showcase. After all, you cannot show the same things every year; you have to create something new, develop and go further,” the head of the Belarus President Administration said.

The Intellectual Belarus expo was held in Minsk on 20-22 January. The exhibition featured achievements and developments by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, educational institutions, research public and private organizations, and techno parks that are engaged in scientific research. Also the exhibition showcased more than 400 exhibits. Among them were full-scale samples (including large-sized equipment), layouts, and multimedia presentations on large screens.

The exposition was divided into several clusters: artificial intelligence, information technology, robotics; innovative instrument making; electric transport and its basic components; defense industry and military science; environment, nature management; biotechnology; pharmacy, healthcare, medicine; agro-industrial complex, food; youth initiatives.

The mission of the exhibition was to demonstrate the latest scientific developments by Belarusian scientists and students, to promote the achievements of science aimed at a wide audience, all strata of Belarusian society.

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The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, educational institutions, research public and private organizations of the country and technoparks engaged in scientific research are showcasing their achievements and developments. All in all, the exhibition features more than 400 exhibits, including large-sized equipment.

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Knowledge-intensive and high-tech products account for more than a third of the Belarusian export, Chairman of the State Committee for Science and Technology of Belarus Sergei Shlychkov told BelTA.

“The share of knowledge-intensive and high-tech products stood at 37.5% of the total Belarusian export in January-September 2022, with the plan set at 34%. According to preliminary estimates, the index of innovatively active manufacturing organizations will make up 30.4% of the total in 2022,” said Sergei Shlychkov.

Belarus is implementing the state innovation development program 2021-2025, including 66 projects for 2022. Seven of them have already been completed. Facilities as part of five of them have been commissioned. More than 700 new jobs have been created. The chairman of the State Committee for Science and Technology mentioned the most notable projects. “Legmash Plant has organized the production of innovative equipment and its components for the oil and gas industry. High-tech export-oriented production of optical components and laser systems with diode pumping of a new generation has been set up at the Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Projects have been completed at Baranovichi Machine-Tool Plant, Belkredo, Spetslit and Ruchaika,” he said.

There are also big plans for 2023. They include the commissioning as part of 19 projects and reaching the design capacity as part of 17 projects. “The BNTU Polytechnic Technopark plans to set up an innovation and production center to manufacture medical products. The Unitehprom BSU is organizing the production of original bioresorbable polyfunctional medicines. Uzda Central District Hospital is setting up a medical and social rehabilitation center for the elderly and disabled, using innovative robotic technology and control system. Minsk Dairy Plant No. 1 is working a new tasty novelty - cheese with white mold,” Sergei Shlychkov said.

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The system of government built in Belarus proved its worth in 2022, which was a difficult year for the economy, Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova said at a meeting with the chairmen of the oblast, city and district Councils of Deputies and the executive committees of Mogilev Oblast, BelTA has learned.

"The year 2023 has already begun. We have largely summed up the results of 2022; the statistics are already there. The tasks that were set before the government of our country in terms of social and economic development were communicated to each region. We already know and understand what we have accomplished, where we have underperformed and what tasks need to be solved in the future. They were clearly defined at the sixth Belarusian People's Congress and spelled out in the state programs," Natalya Kochanova said.

According to the speaker, the Belarusian economy performed well in the difficult year of 2022. "Despite the sanctions pressure, the problems in terms of exports, the economy worked well. Enterprises functioned steadily, wages were paid," she stressed. “People have the opportunity to work, and our products are exported. Last year, as never before, our agricultural industry performed very well, for which they have our deepest gratitude. This means that we have ensured our food security and exported another $8 billion worth of agricultural products. All this suggests that the system of government, the structure that has been built in our country, is effective. We coped well with the difficulties of 2022. Many expected Belarus to collapse, but these expectations never came to pass.”

Agrarians of Mogilev Oblast also made a great contribution to the country's food security in 2022 by harvesting more than 1.3 million tonnes of grain. The region is not going to stop at that. This year they are planning to increase the areas planted to flax, to pay increased attention to the fodder for cattle and compliance with labor discipline in the field of animal husbandry. Another promising avenue in the development of the agricultural industry will be the continuation of constructive work with farmers. As previously noted by Mogilev Oblast Governor Anatoly Isachenko, the region will focus on personnel, decent wages and housing. All this, the governor is sure, will help retain the personnel potential. He also stressed that the heads of agricultural enterprises need to show more autonomy. For successful work in the region there is everything necessary, but initiative on the ground is also important.

Natalya Kochanova held similar meetings with regional executives throughout the country. Mogilev became the final destination. The main purpose of such events is to sum up the results of 2022, to convey the main messages and tasks for the coming year.

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Russia's State Duma ratified the Belarusian-Russian intergovernmental agreement on the mutual recognition of visas and on other issues related to the entry of foreign citizens and stateless persons into the territory of the Member States of the Union State at a plenary session in Moscow on 17 January, BelTA has learned.

The purpose of the agreement, which was signed in Minsk on 19 June 2020, is to create a legal framework for regulating the procedure for crossing the Belarusian-Russian border by foreign citizens and stateless persons.

The document provides for the right of foreigners to enter, leave, stay, transit through the territory of Belarus and Russia on the basis of a visa issued by one of the two states and identity documents.

In order to implement the agreement, the parties are planning to set up an information exchange system on issued and canceled permits for entry and stay and on the crossing of the border of Belarus and Russia at checkpoints. The document provides that foreign citizens and stateless persons who have a temporary residence permit, a residence permit or a document for attending an international sports event in one of the two countries and an identity document shall have the right to enter, leave, stay, transit through the territory of the other state during the term of validity of these documents.

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The coronavirus pandemic in Belarus is almost over, however, neither residents of the country nor healthcare workers should relax just yet, BelTA learned from Belarusian Healthcare Minister Dmitry Pinevich.

Dmitry Pinevich said: “Today we are talking about lessons of the pandemic. We are accustomed to the situation changing fast while we come up with prompt responses to it. The pandemic taught us a slightly different format of information sharing and work. The pandemic is almost over, but we cannot relax. Because we've entered the age of viruses.”

According to the healthcare minister, Belarus is experiencing a tridemic (a triple threat). Dmitry Pinevich said the coronavirus maintains very low activity but there is the problem of the flu virus and respiratory viruses. As a result, it is mainly kids and the elderly that are getting sick these days. The incidence rate has dropped partially because children had been on school vacations.

Dmitry Pinevich expects the current epidemic situation in Belarus to stay like this till February. “The recommendations stay the same: wear face masks in medical institutions, air rooms, and lead an active lifestyle,” he said.

Vaccination has played a serious role in stabilizing the epidemic situation. Vaccination covers all the categories of the Belarus population. “Active vaccination against the coronavirus and the flu is in progress. Since 2009 we've been vaccinating 40% of the population against flu and nearly all the kids. We have vaccines and responses to any current viruses. There is no need to wait for medications and distribute them. We are ready to answer any challenges,” Dmitry Pinevich assured.

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About Br4 billion has been appropriated for servicing the state debt in Belarus in 2023. Belarusian First Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Kiyko made the statement on the air of the TV Belarusian channel STV, BelTA has learned.

Dmitry Kiyko said: “There are issues with the state debt every year. The state budget for the year 2023 has appropriated about Br4 billion for servicing the state debt. Nearly 75% of the sum in currencies of the countries that are friendly to us. The Russian ruble, the Chinese yuan.”

Apart from servicing the state debt there are plans to make payments on the principal debt. “In February we will have to redeem eurobonds worth about $800 million. There are certain problems due to the sanctions that have been introduced against Belarus. In particular, against the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus, which is the government's paying agent. Last year the government and the central bank made a joint decision to make payments in Belarusian rubles due to this situation. The payments will be made to the investors, who can confirm they are holders of the eurobonds. The relevant resources are available for it. We will handle this payment without any shocks.”

Certain procedures are in place with regard to the other investors, the main of which is the Russian Federation in addition to Eurasian financial institutions. “We understand how we have to work. We intend to make payments according to the schedules we have. Nevertheless, we are in negotiations on making payments on the terms that are comfortable for us. And our partners hear us, the work proceeds constructively,” Dmitry Kiyko remarked.

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A joint tactical exercise involving Air Force units of the Armed Forces of Belarus and Russia that belong to the aerial component of the Belarus-Russia regional military force will take place on 16 January – 1 February, the press service of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA.

An aviation component representing the Aerospace Forces of Russia arrived in Belarus on 8 January.

All the airfields and training areas of the Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Armed Forces of Belarus will be used during the tactical Air Force exercise.

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