Members of the Council of the Republic have been elected in the Vitebsk region

Concern for the well-being of people should be a common thread running through all activities of the parliamentary corps representing Vitebsk region in the new, sixth convocation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. Only in this way can the immense trust placed by the voters of the northern region during the concluded parliamentary campaign be justified.

This was stated by the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev, at a joint meeting of deputies of local councils of the basic level for the election of members of the Council of the Republic, held in Vitebsk on September 13. The event was attended by about 660 people's representatives from all district and city representative bodies. This event actually completed the formation of regional representation in the National Assembly. Summarizing the results of the electoral marathon, the head of the region specifically thanked the residents of Vitebsk region for their demonstrated civic maturity and active political position.

– The high turnout in the elections to the lower house, with voters in rural areas traditionally showing the greatest activity, indicates that people are confident in those they voted for, placing great trust in both the elected deputies and the authorities as a whole, – stated Nikolai Sherstnev. – This means that now we must keep the promises made in the election programs to improve people's quality of life and to transform the regions as a whole. In this direction, the parliamentary corps must develop its activities in unison with the executive authorities, reminded the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee.

In accordance with the legislation, the meeting of deputies of local councils precedes the voting procedure for the election of members of the Council of the Republic, which is the chamber of territorial representation. The right to open the event was granted to the oldest representative of the parliamentary corps, who turned out to be Romuald Shukel, a deputy of the Braslav District Council and chairman of the Mayak Braslavsky agricultural production cooperative. After the formation of the working bodies of the meeting, as well as confirmation of the legitimacy of the assembly and legality

candidates nominated for the upper house of parliament presented to those present the main directions of their work in the National Assembly.

Director of RPDUP "Tolochinsky Cannery" Anatoly Anyukhovsky, nominated by the presidiums of the Tolochinsky, Senno and Chashniksky district councils and relevant executive committees, intends to focus on improving legislation aimed at regulating production, investment processes, employment, and the development of small and medium-sized settlements.

Head of the healthcare department of the regional executive committee Yuri Derkach (Orsha, Dubrovno, Liozno districts) is ready to dedicate parliamentary activities to shaping demand for the development of personal health and, accordingly, legislative incentives for health-preserving behavior. An important area, in his opinion, is the improvement of the organization of the healthcare system.

Director of OAO "Polotsktransneft Druzhba" Vasily Drobotov (Novopolotsk) will not ignore the pressing problems of the oil city's development, providing all possible assistance not only in the implementation of modernization plans for the city's industry but also in resolving social issues, keeping in mind that Novopolotsk is a youth city. In addition, his attention will be focused on areas such as improving legislation regulating investment activities and work in foreign markets, aimed at increasing the efficiency of human resources utilization, stimulating innovation, and introducing high technologies.

Director of RUP RTC "Television and Radio Company "Vitebsk" Elena Pantyukhova (Vitebsk) considers it necessary to direct efforts and use the opportunities and powers of a member of the Council of the Republic for the further development of the regional center, as well as for resolving the entire complex of issues of ensuring information and demographic security, supporting the family, and the cultural development of the nation.

The priority direction of activity in the upper houseparliament, Chairman of the Polotsk District Executive Committee Nikolai Shevchuk (Ushachi, Polotsk, Rossony, Shumilino districts) will focus on the development of agricultural production. "The Belarusian village should become prosperous" is the leitmotif of his election program.

Rector of Vitebsk State Medical University Anatoly Shchastny (Lepel, Beshenkovichi, Vitebsk, Gorodok districts) will focus on modernizing the educational system with an emphasis on its practice-oriented nature, as well as promoting the strengthening of the nation's health.

Among the veterans of the upper house of parliament are General Director of LLC "Management Company of Holding "Belarusian Leather and Footwear Company "Marko" Nikolai Martynov (Postavy, Glubokoe, Dokshitsy districts) and Head of RUP "Vitebskoblgaz" Petr Shershen (Verkhnedvinsk, Miory, Braslav, Sharkovshchina districts). In their speeches, they analyzed the results of their work in the fifth convocation of the National Assembly, and also expressed their readiness in the renewed parliament to concentrate their attention in legislative activities on improving the legislation regulating economic activity, as well as on improving the business climate in the country, and unifying the regulatory framework of Belarus and Russia.

According to the results of the secret ballot, all candidates were elected members of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. Anatoly Anyukhovsky received 94.5% of the votes, Yuri Derkach – 93.9%, Vasily Drobertov – 92.7%, Nikolai Martynov – 93%, Elena Pantyukhova – 93.8%, Nikolai Shevchuk – 93.2%, Petr Shershen – 91.8%, Anatoly Shchastny – 94.2%. Against all – 0.5%, and the same number of ballots were declared invalid.

Addressing the selected parliamentarians of the upper and lower chambers of the National Assembly, Nikolai Sherstnev called for constructive interaction with local authorities, when shortcomings are not simply stated, but ways to eliminate them are jointly sought, and the main thing is to achieve financial support for the work.

Moreover, problems have been accumulating in the Vitebsk region for years due to chronic underfunding of costs for the social sphere, infrastructure, housing construction, and utilities.

Today, this deficit must be eliminated, including through the efforts of the deputy corps. And if everyone, in their place, within their powers, metaphorically contributes resources to the common pot, then the resolution of issues will move forward.

Sergey Antonov. Photos by Dmitry Osipov. "Vitebskiye Vesti".