Unique photographs by I. Repin will be available for viewing by guests and participants of the XXII International Festival of Arts "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk", as reported to a BELTA correspondent by Alexei Sukhorukov, director of the I.E. Repin Museum-Estate "Zdravnevo".

The regional competition "Best Manager of the Year" helps to identify excellent managers. Recently, during a regular meeting of the Vitebsk Regional Employers' Union, which discussed the issue of improving the quality and competitiveness of products, commemorative signs and diplomas were awarded to the best managers of Vitebsk enterprises based on their performance in 2012. As for the winners heading business entities located in the districts, they will be honored locally – at the regional branches of the Regional Employers' Union.

JSC "Vitebsk Department Store" is the first among Vitebsk retail outlets to plan to join the Tax Free system, reported the enterprise's director, Svetlana Karput.

The joint exercises of Belarusian and Russian rescuers are becoming a tradition. For example, in 2010, exercises with the participation of Belarusian employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations were held at the Smolensk NPP. The exercises, which concluded today and took place in the Smolensk and Vitebsk regions, demonstrated the readiness of the combat units of the Ministries of Emergency Situations of the two states to promptly respond to cross-border emergencies. "In modern conditions, it is important to respond to such incidents in a timely manner, to exchange information, and the combat coordination of employees is also important," emphasized Vladimir Vashchenko.

In execution of the instructions of the President of Belarus, an interdepartmental working group comprising representatives from the Committee of State Control, the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services, the Ministry of Architecture and Construction, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations will conduct a monitoring of the state of work of state bodies and organizations in the Vitebsk region in November to address the most pressing issues of public concern. Specialists from the interdepartmental group will hold on-site reception sessions, direct telephone lines, and meetings with work collectives in the Liozno, Ushachi, and Orsha districts.

In the Brest region, 56% of voters have already cast their ballots, in the Vitebsk region - 65.6%, in the Gomel region - 62.8%, in the Grodno region - 58%, in the Minsk region - 59.6%, in the Mogilev region - 64.2%, in Minsk - 48%, abroad - 51.1%.

Confiscation of cars from drunk drivers behind the wheel will begin in 2013, Prosecutor General of Belarus Alexander Konyuk told a BELTA correspondent.

On October 16-17, 2013, a tourism seminar for subjects of agroecotourism will be held in Polotsk on the topic: "Prospects for the Development of Agroecotourism in the Vitebsk Region. Changes in Lending Conditions".

On January 6, on the eve of Christmas, a city fair will be held in Vitebsk, with the participation of industrial enterprises, farms, fish farms of the republic, and trade organizations of the city.