Top of the brightest events of 2013 in the Vitebsk region

Time flies relentlessly: it seems like only yesterday we were making plans, and now it's time to sum up the results. Another year is behind us, filled with both good and not-so-good news. We recall the anxieties over the spring flood, which hadn't occurred in our region for the last 50 years (it caused a lot of trouble for farmers!), and over the ASF outbreaks detected in some farms of the region. We mourned those who are gone forever, those who made a great contribution to the prosperity of the Dvina region... The year was not easy, as economists, financiers, and workers alike attest. Nevertheless, the region has been developing steadily, being built up and transformed. And today, the Vitebsk region is a land of hardworking people, grand plans and their confident implementation, hospitable hosts and clean, vast expanses. Let's remember the best that 2013 gave us, and let it remain in history.

75th Anniversary of the Vitebsk Region

The founding date of the Vitebsk Region as a territorial-administrative unit is considered to be January 15, 1938, when the corresponding resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the BSSR was adopted. For many centuries before that, the Dvina region wrote its glorious history as part of the Vitebsk and Polotsk principalities, and the Belarusian and Vitebsk governorates. The modern Vitebsk Region is a highly developed industrial and agricultural region with a rich cultural and spiritual life. It is no coincidence that this year the celebration of the laureates of the honorary title "Person of the Year of the Vitebsk Region" was held as part of a festive meeting dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the region. 100 best representatives of the region's national economy received the award from the hands of the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets.

2. Sporting victories in international arenas

The silver medal of European Athletics Championships in pentathlon by Yana Maksimova and the silver medal of the country's best athlete Alina Talay in the 60-meter hurdles at the same championship in Sweden are a worthy contribution to the medal standings of Vitebsk region. In total, athletes from the region have won 117 medals in international arenas, including 47 gold, 32 silver, and 44 bronze. This is the result of the coaches' skill, the athletes' talent, and, of course, the contribution to the development of the industry. This year, a swimming pool in Postavy, a stadium in Glubokoye, a swimming pool of the Children and Youth Sports School No. 8, and other facilities have been put into operation.

3. Monument to Patriarch Alexy II

The celebrations on the occasion of the monument's opening in Vitebsk took place on the Annunciation holiday. It was erected near the walls of the restored Holy Assumption Cathedral, the foundation of which in 1998 was laid with a capsule and the first stone consecrated by Patriarch Alexy II himself. The opening was attended by clergy from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, the head of the region Alexander Kosinets, and numerous parishioners. The author of the monument is sculptor Vladimir Slobodchikov, and the sponsor is the president of a Moscow company, a native of Gorodok district.

4. Gazprom OJSC Festival "Fakel"

Vitebsk became the capital of the fifth corporate festival of the largest Russian company and received high praise from guests, numbering over 2.5 thousand people. The forum presented the city with concerts, processions, an open-air painting session for young artists at the Ilya Repin Museum-Estate "Zdravnevo", and a unique exhibition "Artists of the Paris School from Belarus", which many called the event of the year. Let's not forget the economic effect – the funds invested by guests in the city's infrastructure in preparation for the festival and spent here.

5. Vitebsk – the best regional center for business

This title was awarded to the capital of the Dvina region based on the results of the republican competition

“The Best City (District) and Region for Business in Belarus-2013”. Economic indicators, positive dynamics in the creation of business entities, their contribution to the budget by the private sector, and the interaction of entrepreneurs with authorities were noted. Also, events and competitions that increase the business activity of the population (in the photo – Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee Zinaida Koroleva).

“Slavianski Bazaar” in a new format

The dates of the international arts festival were reduced to five days, but they turned out to be very eventful. Instead of performances by masters from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, a large joint concert was held on the Day of the Union State. In addition, the main concert venue – the Summer Amphitheater – turned 25 years old. We remind you that Rodion Bass, the well-known director, left his position for health reasons; he was replaced at the helm of the festival by Alexander Sidorenko, appointed General Director of the State Institution

“Center for Culture “Vitebsk”.

Merger of two regional newspapers

“

Vitsebski Rabochy” + “Narodnaya Slova” = new united regional newspaper “Vitebskiye Vesti”

Threshed more than a million

The Vitebsk region's harvest turned out to be substantial; technologies and a well-chosen strategy yield stable results year after year, as does the modernization of the machine and tractor fleet. At the republican festival-fair

"Dazhynki" more than 40 leading workers from the Dvina region, who showed the best results this year, were honored. Even in difficult weather conditions, thanks to coordinated joint efforts, the region's granaries hold 1 million 100 thousand tons of grain.

"Roads of the Liberators"

Liozno is the first district center that welcomed the 70th anniversary of liberation from the Nazi invaders. Ceremonial events were held as part of the republican socio-cultural campaign

"Roads of the Liberators". The opening of the reconstructed memorial complex "Tikhmyanskaya Vysota" took place, a meeting with those who liberated Liozno and took the first steps towards Victory on the Vitebsk land. Following this, the important date was celebrated in Surazh (pictured), Kopty of the Vitebsk region, and Gorodok.

9. A cozy home for a large family

A family-type house has been commissioned in the agro-town of Zabolotye, Orsha district. A friendly family has moved in, where the parents are raising their two biological and five adopted children. Now they live in a two-story cottage with an area of 320 sq. m, the construction of which was financed by OJSC

«ASB Belarusbank». A family raising foster children received a cozy home in Ulla, Beshenkovichi District. Placing children left without parental care into a new family is a form of upbringing that has taken root successfully in the Vitebsk region. There are a total of 20 family-type homes in the region.

10. Best Youth Employment Result

The Vitebsk Regional Headquarters of Student Teams has been recognized as the best in the republic for the fourth time. Over 15,000 pupils and students have been employed, and 820 student teams have been created, working in our region, as well as in other regions of Belarus and abroad. In the Vitebsk region, young people assisted in the reconstruction of farms and healthcare facilities, crop harvesting, children's health improvement, and land cleanup. The main awards for Vitebsk's youth were presented at the republican forum dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the student team movement, held with the participation of the country's President.

11. New Life for Production

The reconstruction of the Braslav branch of the Glubokoye Condensed Milk Plant has been completed; more precisely, it has been literally rebuilt over two years. Modern European lines for the production of hard and soft cheeses have been installed here, allowing for the production of 12 tons per day instead of 2 tons. The invested funds are expected to pay off within 5 years. Large-scale modernization and technical re-equipment were also carried out at OJSC

«Vitebskdrev», in the cheese factory workshop in Postavy, at the Dubrovno Flax Mill, Orsha Flax Combine, and other facilities, which has increased competitiveness, production volumes, and export supplies.

12. Significant Contribution to Health

A modern operating unit has opened at the children's regional clinical hospital after reconstruction. It includes six operating rooms equipped with world-class equipment, which allows for an expanded range of surgical procedures. The region is also undertaking the construction and reconstruction of several healthcare facilities, and a dormitory for students of the medical college has been commissioned. Improving the professional skills of doctors, providing high-quality medical care, and ongoing preventive work are positively impacting demographics: for the second year, the Vitebsk region has seen an increase in birth rates and a decrease in mortality.

Olga Maslovskaya, "Vitebskiye vesti"