The Vitebsk festival is one of the largest cultural projects of the Union State, and holding the Day of the Union State has become as good a tradition here as holding the national days of cultures of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. For many years, it has invariably begun with a ceremony of laying flowers at the monument to soldiers, partisans, and underground fighters on Victory Square. Today, flowers will be laid at the monument by the State Secretary of the Union State, Grigory Rapota, and representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia, public organizations of war veterans, and youth. Then, the State Secretary and deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia will hold a press conference.

A group of 15 Japanese volunteers arrived in Vitebsk on September 6 to meet and exchange experiences with volunteers of the Vitebsk regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society, who are working in a new, actively developing area of volunteer activity - clown therapy.

The Vitebsk City Executive Committee has decided to organize a wide sale of Christmas trees from December 20, 2013, at Christmas tree markets and at fairgrounds during fairs.

The international specialized exhibition "Construction Industry. Innovations in Construction - 2013" opens today in Vitebsk, BELTA was informed by the Vitebsk Regional Marketing Center.

The patriotic project "Roads of Victory" starts today in the Vitebsk region, the acting chairman of the Vitebsk regional council of the public association "Belarusian Republican Pioneer Organization" (BRPO) Yulia Ivanova told a BELTA correspondent.

The National Theatre Award is held in the Republic of Belarus in accordance with the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated September 29, 2012 No. 1404. This year, the award is being held for the second time. 39 applications were submitted for participation in the National Theatre Award from 27 professional state and private theatrical companies of the Republic of Belarus of various types (drama, puppet, musical).

Uncovering the hooligan explosion near the administrative building of the KGB Directorate for the Vitebsk Region was a matter of honor for law enforcement officers. This was stated today at a joint briefing by the head of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Igor Evseev, BelTA correspondent reports.

From June 28 to 30, Vitebsk will celebrate its 1039th birthday.

The play was staged by Yury Kulikovsky, author of "Psychoanalyst for a Psychoanalyst" and "To Live Until the Premiere," which are currently running on the Kolas stage. However, while the director previously chose his plays himself, "The Diligence," according to him, was a proposal from the theater.

Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus Marianna Shchetkina, during a two-day working visit, visited a number of social institutions in the Postavy, Glubokoye, Braslav and Polotsk districts of the Vitebsk region.

The XVII International Festival of Beauty "Rose of Winds HAIR-2014" and the team championship among salons of the Republic of Belarus "Minsk Cup-2014" in hairdressing, decorative cosmetics, and nail service were held in Minsk. These competitions are always eagerly awaited by the best masters of the republic, who are preparing to showcase their skills and learn from colleagues from abroad.