Punitive sanctions should be put on hold for one year for a number of investors, who have not been able to finish construction projects on time due to objective reasons. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko backed the relevant proposal as he heard out a report from Minsk Oblast Governor Semyon Shapiro on 15 June, BelTA has learned. Alexander Lukashenko said: "I am ready to look into the violation of construction contracts by investors. But I don't want us to make a habit of dropping...

Minsk will host the Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum from 11 to 14 October. Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov has signed a relevant executive order, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian government. A committee responsible for the organization of the 21st edition of the Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum has been set up. The organizing committee is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko. The expo and congress Energy. Ecology. Energy Saving. Electro will be...

All conditions have been created in Belarus for a comfortable life of people of any ethnic background, Igor Lyakishev, chairman of the Grodno regional office of the public association Russian Society, told BelTA ahead of the 11th Festival of National Cultures in Grodno. "There is no ethnic discrimination in Belarus, especially with respect to Russians. We speak the same language with Belarusians. Our mindsets and cultures are similar," Igor Lyakishev noted. "Our association promotes the...

Preserving the socially-oriented policy as a priority will be one of the tasks set during the Belarusian People's Congress, BelTA learned from Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Anatoly Kalinin. The official said: "The Belarusian People's Congress is an important political event in our country. During the event new long-term tasks will be set. Preserving the socially-oriented policy as a priority is the most important thing." As far as economy is concerned, ways to reduce costs, raise...

In accordance with the executive order of the Belarus President signed on 17 May, Br7.9 billion will be spent on the social support of talented school and university students in 2016, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader. The document approved the resolution of the special fund of the President to award 100 students. Monetary prizes ranging from Br8.4 million to Br11.55 million and lapel badges have been presented to 20 winners of international academic...

A system to issue visas online will be created in Belarus in 2016-2017 in accordance with the government program on developing the digital economy and the information society in 2016-2020, BelTA learned from Belarusian Information Technologies and Communications Minister Sergei Popkov on 12 May. According to the source, the Digital Visa project has been initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project is supposed to be implemented in 2016-2017. The project will be implemented...