Kopyl regional executive committee

It is essential to tackle the spread of fake news relate to coronavirus deaths, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the meeting in the Palace of Independence on 21 March, BelTA informs.

“You need to track down these websites, channels. A woman died in Vitebsk, this death had nothing to do with coronavirus, several tests were made after her death. I am reported about all similar deaths. Some sources started spreading fake stories that the woman died from coronavirus. Why? To spread panic,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said addressed KGB Chairman Valery Vakulchik.

The president emphasized the need to deal with “scumbags spreading those fake stories”. “Why are they trying to bully people?” he wondered. “Thank goodness, we are keeping things under control in this difficult time during a peak of acute respiratory diseases. Yet, they are trying to turn up the heat, set things on fire. People have already become immune to this silly talk in the internet. But why don't we deal with people who are doing it on purpose?”

According to the head of state, about 1,000 coronavirus tests were done in Minsk in the past 24 hours. All of them came back negative. “It is good, but we should not relax,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed. He instructed Chairperson of the Council of the Republic Natalya Kochanova to take the work with the elderly, who are in the higher risk group, under special control. “It is not about coronavirus: there are many other viruses,” the president said.

Natalya Kochanova noted that she had already talked to heads of district administrations and instructed them to work with elderly people, to organize food delivery to their homes.

“I reiterate: it is not about coronavirus. It is about our integrity and discipline. Does it really matter why a person died? It is our lack of discipline. People should not die from viruses. We must take care of our people. We must encourage children to help elderly people. The main thing right now it to protect the elderly,” the head of state emphasized.

As it was reported, earlier a number of mass media outlets informed that a woman had died from coronavirus in Vitebsk. The Healthcare Ministry made a rebuttal.

According to the Healthcare Ministry, this was the fourth death story from journalists in the past two weeks. Previously they “buried” a famous businessman, a girl in Grodno, and a man in Lepel.

As the husband of the deceased talked to the press and enumerated all her diseases, the Healthcare Ministry had to confirm that the patient had been taken to hospital in Vitebsk on 15 March. “From the epidemiological anamnesis it became clear that the woman had not travelled abroad. She was initially admitted to hospital with pneumonia, and had fever for a week. She also suffered from diabetes, arterial hypertension, chronic bronchitis and obesity. On admission to hospital, she was diagnosed with pneumonia, and doctors, following the order of the Healthcare Ministry (all patients with pneumonia are tested for coronavirus), took a swab. A decision was also made to test her closest relatives,” reads the press release of the press service of the Healthcare Ministry.

“A negative coronavirus test came back the following day. The patient's closest relatives will get results next week. The Healthcare Ministry has extended condolences to the husband and family of the woman. This is a big loss,” the representatives of the ministry stressed.

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko sent greetings to President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Arif Alvi as the country celebrates the national holiday - Pakistan Day, BelTA learned from the Belarusian leader's press service.

The head of state noted that in recent years Belarus and Pakistan have developed fruitful relations: political, economic ties and humanitarian contacts have been developing.

“I am convinced that our joint activities will contribute towards the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in all avenues,” the message of greetings reads.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko is set to visit Adani Company that leads security, healthcare and scientific industry, BelTA has learned.

The head of state is expected to get familiar with the operation of the company, and visit its research center, laboratories, pilot-line production and an assembly workshop.

Adani is a high-tech enterprise of a complete innovation cycle (development, production, maintenance). The company is focused on technologies of medical X-ray image, X-ray inspection systems and non-destructive testing.

Adani became a resident of the Minsk Free Economic Zone in 2010. Over the past years the company has created 545 jobs, invested $38.6 million, including $25.6 million in fixed assets.

Adani supplies products to 86 countries. These are scientific analytical instruments, medical X-ray equipment, screening X-ray equipment, full height human scanners, luggage and transport scanners. Last year the company exported some $40 million worth of goods. The average salary of the personnel involved in production exceeded Br2,500 (the results of 2019).

Adani Technologies was also registered in Minsk Free Economic Zone in 2010. The company is engaged in research and development. For this purpose, a center of strategic innovations and technologies has been built there. In 2010-2019 the company created 136 jobs, attracted €10.2 million in capital investment.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko heard out a report on the epidemiological situation in Belarus on 19 March, BelTA has learned.

The meeting at the Palace of Independence was attended by Head of the Belarus President Administration Igor Sergeyenko, State Secretary of the Security Council Andrei Ravkov, Healthcare Minister Vladimir Karanik. Partaking in the meeting were also representatives of the Belarusian Center of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, the Minsk Research Center of Surgery, Transplantology and Hematology, the Belarusian State Medical University, the Belarusian Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

“I have invited you today to discuss the epidemiological situation in Belarus. It is especially important amid the coronavirus psychosis,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to the head of state, he wanted to meet only with virologists and epidemiologists at first: the president is aware of the position and approaches of the healthcare minister. “But the minister said that he is a statesman and will not hog the blanket. I think, it would be great if the healthcare minister reports on the current situation and you share your opinions,” he said.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has sent a letter of birthday greetings to Georgia President Salome Zourabichvili, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

The head of state recalled the visit of the Georgian leader to Belarus in 2019 and added that the parties discussed a wide range of issues related to bilateral cooperation then.

“I am convinced that active cooperation between Minsk and Tbilisi fully meets the interests of our states and nations,” the message of greetings runs.

Aleksandr Lukashenko praised the business qualities and life experience of Salome Zourabichvili and wished her strong health, implementation of her plans and further success on her responsible post.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko is holding a meeting to discuss Belarus' social and economic development in 2019 and achievements in 2016-2020 on 17 March, BelTA has learned.

The traditional meeting at the Palace of Independence is attended by about 50 top-ranking government officials, representatives of the parliament and the Belarus President Administration, governors.

Constitution Day has become a symbol of freedom and independence of the Belarusian people, of a centuries-long way of development of the state and the society, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he wished a happy Constitution Day, which was celebrated on 15 March, to Belarusian compatriots, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

“The continuity of national legal traditions, the use of the best achievements of the global legislative experience were reflected in the Constitution. Its adoption determined the main goals of our modern history. History, where the rights and liberties of citizens come to the forefront, people and fair attitude to them become a priority,” the message of greetings reads.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that the observation of the norms of the Fundamental Law guarantees a coordinated and productive operation of all branches of power, accord in the society, development of the competitive economy, efficiency of the social policy, which is aimed at creating favorable conditions for the all-round development of every person.

The president wished strong health and happiness to all Belarusians. He also wished peace and prosperity to sovereign Belarus.

The number of those who want to shatter the Belarusian state from the inside is not decreasing, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he heard out a report of Interior Affairs Minister Yuri Karayev on 13 March, BelTA has learned.

“Some time ago we agreed that as soon as you get fully acquainted with the state of affairs, you will report on the situation and tell me what you need. I think that you, having analyzed the results of the previous year, can already make corresponding conclusions and say what else is needed to be done in the law enforcement to make police more efficient,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state remarked that there are drawbacks in the operation of all state bodies, including police. “But we cannot do without police because police inspectors work with people, ministers are not isolated from the society. Without police we cannot ensure stability in our society,” the president is convinced.

In his words, this does not even pertain to certain political campaigns: many campaigns were held in the country, and this one will also take place in a calm way. “We need to look further – stable society is a priority. We need to keep both eyes open: the number of those who want to shatter our state from the inside is not decreasing. Unfortunately, the majority of those who are willing to do so are the so-called Belarusian citizens. It is even difficult to call them citizens. Everything is bad for them, the only thing they want to do is to criticize the authorities and disintegrate the society, to make worse. They use any moment. I read various statements of such people not only in the Internet, but also in the so-called mass media,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Therefore, I believe that police are playing a huge role in ensuring stability in our society.”

Belarus' Ambassador to Hungary Aleksandr Ponomarev has taken part in the Celebrating Common Victory international campaign timed to the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory and visited the graves of Soviet soldiers in the towns of Kaposvar and Szekesfehervar, BelTA learned from the Belarusian diplomatic mission.

“Soil from the burial places was taken to be given to the All Saints Church in Minsk. About 80,000 Soviet soldiers and officers gave their lives to free Hungary from Nazism,” the diplomatic mission informed.

The ambassador met with senior officials of Kaposvar and Szekesfehervar and local activists and held talks at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Fejer County.

The Council of Ministers of Belarus has approved a draft agreement with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) on a loan to finance the investment project to upgrade higher education in Belarus. Appropriate Resolution No.135 of 9 March 2020 was officially posted on the National Legal Internet Portal on 11 March, BelTA has learned.

Plans are in place to raise the IBRD loan of €100 million for 14.5 years in 2020-2025. The Belarusian Education Ministry shall be responsible for negotiating the draft agreement, making the necessary, but not major amendments to it, and signing the document once the parties reach an agreement within the scope of the approved draft.

The resolution came into force on the day of its adoption.