Press releases

MOSCOW, 20 May (BelTA) – The 6th Congress of the Federal National-Cultural Autonomy of the Belarusians of Russia is due to be held in Moscow on 22 May, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Embassy in Russia.

The congress will be attended by delegates from the regional and local national-cultural autonomies of the Belarusians of Russia, and the guests representing the public organizations of the Belarusians of other forms of self-organization: the national-cultural associations, Belarusian culture societies, communities, etc.

The plenary session of the congress to be held at the Moscow House of Nationalities will review the performance of the autonomy and elect the governing bodies. Then the delegates will hold a meeting at the Embassy of Belarus in Russia, and will get acquainted with its main business and cultural activities.

According to the last census, there were 520,000 Belarusians in Russia. It is the largest Belarusian diaspora in the world.

The Federal National-Cultural Autonomy of the Belarusians of Russia was established on 2 April 1999 and registered by Russia’s Justice Ministry on 6 August 1999. The main objectives of the organization are: to preserve and develop the Belarusian language, traditions, national culture of the Belarusian people; promote and protect the constitutional rights and freedoms, national dignity, to assist in the fight against nationalism in all its forms and manifestations; to facilitate cooperation and mutual understanding with other national associations in Russia and abroad; coordinate the actions of the associations – members of autonomy and, when necessary, represent and protect their legitimate interests in government agencies.

The congress is the supreme body of the Federal National-Cultural Autonomy of the Belarusians of Russia. It elects the chairman and the board of the autonomy who supervise its work during the period until the next congress.