Ready for the referendum

The upcoming referendum on amendments to the Constitution is the main event that all citizens of the country are concerned about right now. This is for good reason because this is the choice of the future both for the state as a whole and for each of us. The choice, the correctness of which will be a reliable protection against challenges that have become more and more common in today’s world.

Make life better and more comfortable

One of the tasks of updating the Constitution is to improve lives. Including the development of the economy of such farms as the OAO Parokhonskoye of the Pinsk District, which was recently visited by the Head of the President Administration Igor Sergeyenko. In the agricultural town of Parokhonsk (it is considered a village of the future in the Brest Region), a meeting with economic operators of Pinsk District was held.
Addressing the audience, Igor Sergeyenko noted that people show a great interest in the referendum, “Active work is underway countrywide, among all people, including with the help of the mass media, but live communication with people is still the main thing.
There is the confidence that the referendum will be held in a constructive way. People will support it — as confirmed by opinion polls and meetings with citizens.

Photo by Aleksandr Kulevsky


Preparation is proceeding as planned. Commissions of various levels have been established, and all issues have been worked out. No emergency steps or additional measures are required. The situation in the country is calm, stable, and manageable. Everything is ready for the referendum.”
At the same time, the Head of the President Administration noted that destructive forces keep on trying to take revenge, “Political emigrant centres are trying to somehow influence the situation, viewing the period of preparation for the referendum as the last chance of destabilisation and seeking to strengthen the politicisation of society and radicalise the mood. They reckon on the aggravation of the economic situation that cannot be allowed today.
It cannot be ruled out that various kinds of provocations might be observed at polling stations.”


The Head of the President Administration Igor Sergeyenko:
Preparation is proceeding as planned. Commissions of various levels have been established, and all issues have been worked out. No emergency steps or additional measures are required. The situation in the country is calm, stable and manageable. Everything is ready for the referendum.

No gaps found

The CIS observation mission began monitoring the referendum in Belarus on February 1st. In all regions of the country, its representatives monitor the preparedness of the territorial commissions. Last week, Leonid Anfimov, head of the headquarters of the CIS observation mission, visited a number of polling stations in Grodno and district centres of the Grodno Region. The result of the tour, as well as meetings with the leadership of the Region and those responsible for organising the upcoming important event on February 27th, was an unambiguous conclusion: everything has been done here to ensure that voting in the referendum takes place in accordance with international norms that govern such events.
“I can state that the region is fully ready for the referendum,” Leonid Anfimov expressed his opinion. “Even if it had to be held tomorrow, it would have been held at a very high organisational level.”
The head of the mission headquarters informed that representatives of all CIS countries, except for Turkmenistan and Ukraine, take part in monitoring the preparation and holding of the referendum. 

Representatives of the CIS observer mission get acquainted with the preparations for the referendum
Photo courtesy of the Pastauski Krai newspaper

We can’t stay on the sidelines

Chairwoman of Bellegprom Tatyana Lugina, “It is necessary for everyone to reflect, realise the essence of the amendments and additions to the Constitution, hear the opinions of experts and express their position on February 27th.”

Chairwoman of the Bellegprom concern considers the constitutional referendum one of the most important events, the results of which will determine the course of development of our country for years. It is everyone’s duty to make this choice. Moreover, this is a duty both to ourselves and to our children and future generations:

Now there are many people who believe that they are experts in different areas, and like to criticise everyone and everything. However, I would like it to be constructive criticism. The future referendum is just an opportunity to express one’s position on changes in the Basic Law. So my message to everyone is: go vote. Do not look from the outside: what will happen there, how will it be?
I would like to appeal, in particular, to young people: it is significant and necessary to participate in the life of the country, including through such forms of decision-making as a referendum.
The new Constitution turned out, in my opinion, quite powerful. Especially the block concerning the Belarusian People’s Congress. This is a true innovation for us: management through this state body, giving it such powers.
It is essential for me that the article about young people was taken out and fixed. Today we understand that modern, you know, they’re missing something, and it’s our fault as well. In view of some other priorities, we didn’t tell them something in childhood, didn’t explain it, didn’t put heart into it all. Now, having realised this, we correct the situation. Young people are now endowed not only with rights but also with duties, becoming full participants in the life of society. The state creates all the necessary conditions for this.
The fact that additions and clarifications concerning patriotism, the preservation of the historical memory of the heroic past of the Belarusian people appeared in the Constitution is also an important point. Today we see how history is sometimes incorrectly retold, facts are distorted.
I often catch myself thinking that in modern cinema sometimes the soul of the characters is not so notable amid the special effects, as it is in films about the Great Patriotic War, which were made in Soviet times. Recently, with bated breath, I watched They Fought for the Motherland with Shukshin in the title role. It’s nice to see how everything is presented there, both about people and about patriotism. The people were ready to give their lives for their country!
It is clear that times are different now, there is such a thing as a world citizen. People are not tied to the given city, home. But I think: wherever you are, wherever you live, you need to be proud of the country where you come from. People cannot live without their history, traditions, roots. It is important to cultivate beautiful and sincere feelings — seedlings of respect and love for Motherland — from childhood. There are many things to admire in Belarus. It is worth knowing and remembering!
Therefore, it is necessary that everyone considers, understands the essence of the amendments and additions to the Constitution, hears the opinions of experts, and expresses his position on February 27th.

Based on materials of sb.by