An official opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2021 and the large-scale defense technology forum Army 2021 took place in Alabino, Moscow Oblast, Russia on 23 August. A Belarusian delegation led by Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Viktor Khrenin attended the opening ceremony. The most thrilling event of the games – a tank biathlon – was launched there, representatives of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA.

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation in the evening of 23 August. The parties had agreed to get in touch by phone during the CSTO summit that took place in the morning. The presidents wanted to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and to compare notes on topical issues of the bilateral agenda, in particular economy, defense and political issues, BelTA informs.

It is inadmissible to freeze the situation in the country lest stagnation happens. It is necessary to move forward and implement changes but only within the limits of the law. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement during a ceremony held on 20 August to present state awards to representatives of defense, security, and law enforcement agencies, BelTA has learned.

The main tasks and avenues of development with regard to the digital transformation of the education system will be discussed at a national teaching staff meeting on 23 August, representatives of the Operations and Analysis Center under the President of the Republic of Belarus told BelTA.

The commitment to leave no one behind is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the Belarusian National Assembly, the National Coordinator for the SDGs Anatoly Isachenko said as he opened the conference “Localization of the Sustainable Development Goals at the regional level”, BelTA has learned.

Paying taxes is a must, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Taxes and Duties Minister Sergei Nalivaiko and Chairman of the State Control Committee Vasily Gerasimov on 19 August, BelTA has learned.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has instructed the government to work out a set of additional measures against another loop of sanctions the Western countries have enforced against Belarus. Press Secretary of the Belarus President Natalya Eismont made the statement when asked about the Belarusian leader's response to new sanctions, in particular, sanctions enforced by the USA, the UK, and Canada, BelTA has learned.

A Big Conversation with the President took place in the Palace of Independence on 9 August. The meeting of Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko with representatives of the general public, experts, and mass media lasted for about eight hours and 15 minutes, BelTA has learned.

Although the summer was hot in all respects, the main task remains unchanged - to keep working and produce results, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting hosted by the Grodno Oblast Executive Committee on 6 August, BelTA has learned.

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed the law enforcement and security services to to beef up border protection and to prevent border violation cases as he spoke at a meeting to discuss the situation at the border on 5 August, BelTA has learned.

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko heard out a report of Belarus' Emergencies Minister Vadim Sinyavsky on 2 August, BelTA has learned.

The draft new Constitution is a concept of the future of Belarus, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with senior local government officials to discuss topical social and political issues in Minsk on 30 July, BelTA has learned.

The education reform should be completed by September 2022 to bring education to a higher level, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he made new appointments on 29 July, BelTA has learned.

The Big Conversation with the President will take place on 9 August. Belarusian head of state Aleksandr Lukashenko is expected to meet with members of the general public, experts and representatives of the media community in the format of an open conversation, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with President of the Kurchatov Institute Mikhail Kovalchuk on 27 July, BelTA informs.

At a session in Minsk on 23 July Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko demanded quality, speed and effort while harvesting crops, BelTA has learned.

By creating a hotbed of tension around Belarus, European politicians are setting off World War III, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in an interview with the Arab-speaking TV channel Sky News Arabia on 19 July, BelTA has learned.

Proposals have been submitted to amend the Belarusian Constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, Chairman of the Constitutional Commission, Chairman of the Constitutional Court Piotr Miklashevich told the media on 21 July, BelTA has learned.