The forthcoming presidential election in Belarus should be well organized, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he addressed a meeting to discuss important social, economic, and political matters in Minsk on 25 May, BelTA has learned.

The Ministerial Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will hold a videoconference meeting on 26 May, CSTO spokesman Vladimir Zainetdinov told BelTA.

Places of mass rest in Vitebsk Oblast were taken by law enforcement officers under special control.

The names of candidates for the presidency of Belarus will be known in July, CEC Chairperson Lidia Yermoshina said in the Actual Microphone program on the air of the First National Channel of Belarusian Radio.

The collection of signatures to nominate candidates for the post of the President of Belarus will be held from 21 May through 19 June inclusively, BelTA has learned.

The farms of Vitebsk Oblast completed the sowing of spring grain and leguminous plants. Their area amounted to 194 thousand hectares in the oblast, said Sergei Egorov, chairman of the committee on agriculture and food of the Oblast Executive Committee.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has signed a decree “On social support for certain population groups,” BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

It is necessary to quickly consider housing and communal services in the regions, so that appeals to higher authorities are fewer. This opinion was expressed by the Presidential Aide - Vitebsk Oblast Inspector Anatoly Linevich during a direct telephone line with residents of the northern region.

The meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council will take place in the format of a video conference under the chairmanship of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 19 May. Earlier the meeting was to take place in Minsk, however, in the light of the recent unfavorable epidemiological situation the leaders of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) decided to discuss the agenda remotely, BelTA has learned.

A virtual gallery of portraits of veterans and participants of the Great Patriotic War was created in Novopolotsk, said Vladimir Belyaev, director of the Museum of History and Culture of Novopolotsk.

The Russian company Rosneft has signed contracts to supply up to 9 million tonnes of oil to Belarus by the end of 2020, BelTA learned from the company's website.

In Vitebsk Oblast, today the oblast stage of the campaign "For the Glory of General Victory" was completed. The transfer of land from the military graves took place at the Breakthrough memorial complex in Ushachy Region on the anniversary of the Nazi encirclement by partisans.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Prime Minister Sergei Rumas to receive his report on 14 May, BelTA has learned.

In Vitebsk, an opportunity appeared to give respite to doctors and to carry out an intermediate disinfection of hospitals: the load on hospitals is reduced due to COVID 19 and pneumonia. Some health care institutions decided to return to their main profile. Compared with the statistics of two three weeks ago, the load in Dokshitsy is about 30 percent less. There are no more patients in Liozno, Pastavy, Miory, a much similar situation in Beshenkovichi.

On 13 May, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed a decree to approve the annual report for 2019 of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB), BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

The winners of the competition for achieving the best indicators in 2019 in the field of social and economic development and saving of fuel, energy and material resources with entering on the Honor board of Vitebsk Oblast were determined.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed Decree No.159 “Concerning the translation of assets and liabilities into functional curency” on 12 May, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

Belarusians annually dispose of 280,000 tonnes of plastic waste, which is 29.4kg per capita, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry.

The relevant work is carried out in military registration and enlistment offices and separate groups of Vitebsk Oblast. To protect the State border of the Republic of Belarus, modern complex weapon systems and equipment are used, requiring deep and versatile knowledge and practical skills. Therefore, special requirements are imposed on members of the border service. One of the most important selection criteria is a high level of physical and moral- psychological preparation.

The medical building of Vitebsk Oblast Hospital of invalids of the Great Patriotic War "Yurtsevo" with 30 beds was opened today after a major overhaul with modernization.