Volozhin Region
Executive Committee

MINSK, 19 June (BelTA) – As of 19 June, 35,275 patients previously diagnosed with COVID-19 recovered and were discharged from hospitals in Belarus, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry.

As many as 57,333 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the country. Belarus has carried out 821,887 tests.

A total of 337 COVID-19 patients suffering from a number of chronic diseases have died in Belarus.

MINSK, 18 June (BelTA) – Over 260 foreign citizens have requested refugee status or additional protection in Belarus so far this year. The geography of candidates has changed very slightly in comparison with previous years, BelTA learned from Head of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Belarusian Internal Affairs Ministry Aleksei Begun on 18 June during a press conference timed to World Refugee Day (20 June).

According to the source, an effective national shelter system has been created in Belarus. The country has established tight cooperation with partners, international and non-governmental public organizations. Three centers to offer temporary accommodation to those seeking refugee status or additional protection in Belarus have been created with assistance of the representative office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. They can accommodate over 60 people, who have been unable to find a place to live in the Republic of Belarus on their own. Aleksei Begun thanked the Belarusian Society of the Red Cross, which invests considerable financial resources in providing humanitarian aid to vulnerable citizens.

Aleksei Begun said that since the legislation on forced migration was enacted, about 9,500 foreigners from 71 countries have applied for refugee status or additional protection. Refugee status was granted to 954 people. Additional protection was granted to over 4,000 forced migrants. In the last six years alone over 4,200 Ukrainian citizens contacted the Belarusian authorities. Over 3,800 Ukrainians, who came from the regions where combat actions were taking place, were granted additional protection.

So far this year over 260 foreigners from 71 countries have contacted Belarusian authorities seeking refugee status or additional protection. The geography of the countries from where forced migrants are coming to Belarus has changed very little. Ukrainian citizens, who resided primarily in Donetsk Oblast and Lugansk Oblast, represented about 75% of the total. Citizens of Russia, Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey, Yemen, Cameroon, and other African, Asian, and Latin American countries also contacted Belarusian authorities. Although the total number of forced migrants coming to Belarus has dropped somewhat.

“We've compiled a small sociological overview of the forced migrants that live in Belarus. About two thirds of the total are employable age people. One third are underage. Pension-age people represent only 5% of the total. Of the employable age people about 80% study or work, 8% are on maternity leave, and about 12% seek jobs,” Aleksei Begun added. Thus, the average forced migrant in Belarus today is an employable age person with a paid job. Those are often families with one kid or more, with the wife on maternity leave to take care of the child that was born in Belarus' territory.

Aleksei Begun also noted that most of the passenger transport services have been closed due to the pandemic and the closure of national borders. This is why some refugees were unable to leave their country in search of a shelter. At the same time Belarus has not restricted the arrival of foreign or Belarusian citizens in the country. “Everyone coming to Belarus had access to the relevant procedure, went through the procedure, and the relevant decisions were made in response to their applications,” the official said.

Aleksei Begun noted that from 16 March through 15 June 2020 over 2,300 foreigners sought to extend their stay in Belarus because their countries refuse to take them back or flights are delayed. Or the people were in a crisis situation in Belarus due to restrictive measures implemented by other countries due to the pandemic.

MINSK, 17 June (BelTA) – The 29th edition of the International Arts Festival Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk will take place on 16-20 July, Belarus Culture Minister Yuri Bondar told journalists on 17 June, BelTA has learned.

“The 29th edition of the International Arts Festival Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk will be held on 16-20 July in a new format. It might become one of the largest open-air festivals,” Yuri Bondar said. “This year's festival will become closer to its spectators, abandoning concert halls for open-air venues. This will be the unique feature of this edition of the festival,” he added.

The Slavianski Bazaar, a celebration of art and friendship, is of the same age as the sovereign and independent Belarus, the culture minister noted. “The festival has become a calling card of our country, an outstanding part of the international festival movement, and a cultural brand of Belarus. Let me remind you that the motto of the festival is ‘Through Art to Peace and Understanding'. This idea has been at the heart of the Slavianski Bazaar concept since its establishment and remains important and up-to-date. The festival promotes modern and traditional Belarusian culture at the international level in a unique and appealing way, successfully accomplishing the important mission to preserve a single creative space of the Slavic nations,” he noted.

Yuri Bondar added that in recent years the festival brought together people from 75 countries from five continents. “The festival drew tens of thousands of representatives of the Slavic and international culture,” the minister remarked.

MINSK, 16 June (BelTA) – The Belarusian air company Belavia is planning its first charter flight to Egypt on 4 July, BelTA learned from Belavia's press service.

Belavia plans to perform the first charter flight to Hurghada, Egypt on 4 July, the press service noted.

The airline recommends checking with travel companies for further details.

MINSK, 15 June (BelTA) – The projections that the number of new COVID-19 cases in June would be gradually reducing are coming true, Belarus Deputy Health Minister – Chief Public Health Inspector Natalya Zhukova said in an interview with the ONT TV channel on 14 June, BelTA has learned.

“We are monitoring the epidemiological situation and can confirm that the number of new cases is falling. The June forecasts about a decrease in the number of new coronavirus cases have proven to be true. There are regions where the number of new cases is very low and there are regions where this process continues to develop, but in general we see a positive dynamics,” Natalya Zhukova said.

She does not rule out the possibility of a second wave of the epidemic. “At any rate, the healthcare system is gearing up for this. We will observe the countries that are currently going through another stage, the one we were coping with in March and April, as well as the countries who have emerged from this process. We will draw conclusions and make forecasts based on that,” Natalya Zhukova noted.

MINSK, 12 June (BelTA) – As of 12 June, 27,760 patients previously diagnosed with COVID-19 recovered and were discharged from hospitals in Belarus, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry.

As many as 52,520 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country. Belarus has performed 697,011 tests.

A total of 298 COVID-19 patients suffering from a number of chronic diseases have died in Belarus.

MINSK, 11 June (BelTA) – As of 11 June, a total of 26,643 patients previously diagnosed with COVID-19 recovered and were discharged from hospitals in Belarus, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry.

As many as 51,816 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country.

Belarus has performed a total of 678,570 tests.

A total of 293 COVID-19 patients suffering from a number of chronic diseases have died in Belarus.

MINSK, 10 June (BelTA) – Belarusian military personnel will take part in the Victory parade in Moscow on 24 June, representatives of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA.

Personnel of the composite honor guard company will represent Belarus during the parade that will take place in Moscow on 24 June to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. As many as 73 Belarusian soldiers will march in parade ranks across Red Square.

Belarusian participants of the parade are expected to leave for Russia on 15 June.

MINSK, 9 June (BelTA) – Charter flights to Turkey from Belarus will resume on 1 July, BelTA learned from travel companies. 

The first flight from Minsk to Antalya is scheduled for 1 July. Flights will also be operated from the regional airports of Gomel, Grodno, Mogilev, Brest and Vitebsk.

The AeroBelService tour operator reminds its customers that masks are mandatory in airports in Antalya, Izmir, Bodrum. On arrival, all passengers will have their temperature taken. Passengers with high temperatures will take a rapid test. If the test result is positive, the tourist shall be sent for treatment (insurance included in the tour operator's package tours covers the treatment for COVID-19), people accompanying the tourist shall be placed in the quarantine zone - part of the hotel designed to accommodate guests suspected of contracting COVID-19 and first-level contacts. If the test result is negative, the tourist shall be moved to the quarantine zone for a day, with his temperature taken regularly. With all indicators being normal, the tourist shall be allowed to move to a clean zone.

All Turkish hotels are required to obtain “a health certificate” which confirms that they have complied with all the requirements of the Turkish authorities to ensure safety and protect health of tourists.

Turkey is traditionally one of the most popular destinations for Belarusian travelers. According to the Belarusian Statistics Committee, 155,700 organized tourists holidayed in Turkey in 2019.

According to Anadolu Agency, the hotel occupancy rate in Turkey in July is forecast at 70%. Now hotels continue the preparations for welcoming foreign tourists. The social distance of 1.5m will be observed on beaches, in swimming pools and restaurants.

MINSK, 8 June (BelTA) – As of 8 June, a total of 23,880 patients previously diagnosed with COVID-19 recovered and were discharged from hospitals in Belarus, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry.

As many as 49,453 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country.

Belarus has performed a total of 632,993 tests.

A total of 276 COVID-19 patients suffering from a number of chronic diseases have died in Belarus.