Landfill cleanup, sewage problems, employment of Latvian citizens. What other issues were raised with Alexander Subbotin during his personal reception?
Public figures from Minsk, who assist Latvian citizens wishing to obtain permanent residency in Belarus with employment, came to a personal reception with the head of the region. As the visitors explained, the majority choose the Vitebsk region. These are people of various professions, including blue-collar and agricultural workers, as well as doctors and teachers. Sometimes, when seeking employment, Latvian citizens encounter misunderstanding and distrust from employers. They are also poorly informed about where to turn.
Boris Efremov, Chairman of the Committee for Labor, Employment, and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee, provided specific figures: 206 Latvian citizens are employed in the Vitebsk region. The majority are in Vitebsk, as well as in the western regions of the oblast. Many vacancies, especially in the agro-industrial sector, involve the provision of housing. All this information is publicly available and can be found by visiting official websites.
However, it seems that in some cases, the human factor comes into play. Alexander Subbotin instructed the relevant services to treat people who wish to move to the Vitebsk region and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region with greater attention and trust.
The owner of a dacha plot in the "Rodnik" gardening cooperative in the Orsha district came to the reception with a request to assist in the cleanup of a landfill that had formed 6 meters from his house. According to the man, he constantly has to clear garbage that the wind and birds scatter around his plot. Moreover, it is unpleasant to live next to a foul-smelling dump.
The dacha owner raised this issue with local authorities, specifically the Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. A decision was made to dismantle the landfill and install a container site in its place. The majority of the members of the gardening association voted in favor of this. The authorities cannot influence this opinion. Nevertheless, the head of the region has instructed to organize a general meeting once again and find an optimal waste disposal solution.
Residents of house № 54 on Moskovsky Prospekt in Vitebsk have identified several problems. The building was constructed over 60 years ago and has not undergone major repairs to date. However, according to the applicants, such repairs are necessary. People complain about poor heating, insufficient water pressure, unsanitary conditions in the basements, and a poorly maintained courtyard area.
Alexey Geroev, Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, explained that this house is not included in the major repair plan for the coming years. However, cosmetic repairs, including facade renovation and replacement of windows in the entrances, will be carried out in the third quarter of 2025, and balcony repairs will commence in August. Modern courtyard equipment is also planned to be installed. Specialists have assured that the utility networks are in working order. The housing and communal services have been instructed to keep this house under supervision.
A resident of Vitebsk, living on Titov Street, complained about sewage problems. Periodically, she has to leave her apartment, which is flooded with sewage. The woman is even willing to move elsewhere if nothing changes. The head of the region instructed to thoroughly investigate the situation. If this problem can be solved by the housing and communal services, then another one, indicated by the applicant at the reception, is not so simple. The issue concerns the recovery of alimony from a spouse. The debt has accumulated over 10 years. The relevant authorities of Belarus cannot hold the negligent husband accountable, as he lives outside the country. He is currently in Russia, and the Russian Federal Bailiff Service must collect alimony. The woman was promised all possible support, including employment for her high school daughter in a summer construction brigade.
Alexander Subbotin called another applicant personally because she could not come to the reception from Polotsk, as there was no one to leave her disabled son with. The woman asked for help in obtaining a voucher for her son's health improvement at the Naroch sanatorium and to influence the investigation of the accident that occurred with her husband, who died while at the enterprise.
Unfortunately, there were no available places at the Naroch sanatorium for the dates indicated by the Polotsk resident, and other dates did not suit her. The woman was offered the Lettsy sanatorium. The investigation into the circumstances of her husband's death is being conducted by the regional department of the State Labor Inspectorate. Alexander Subbotin assured that everything would be thoroughly checked and an objective conclusion would be given.
Since the beginning of the year, the regional executive committee has received 1317 appeals from citizens. Most often, people complained about the provision of housing and communal services, maintenance and repair of houses (20% of the total number of complaints). The second place is occupied by the improvement of settlements, followed by land management and land use. The fewest appeals concerned road management and transport (4% each).