The new, fifth Council of the Republic (the upper house of the National Assembly of Belarus) began its first plenary meeting in Minsk on Friday morning.
The Council will discuss the powers of its members, elect its chairperson, deputy chairpersons and Presidium and form standing committees.
Only handpicked pro-government journalists were allowed into the Council's new residence (which is situated in the old building of Belarus’ National Library) as Aliaksandr Lukashenka is to deliver an address to its members. Other journalists, including holders of permanent accreditation to cover the Council's activities, were denied access to the meeting.
Fifty-six people were elected to the Council of the Republic in September.
The elections took place at meetings of members of the “base-level” local soviets (elected councils) in each of Belarus' six regions and at a meeting of the Minsk City Council, which were held between September 6 and September 25.
People are always elected to the Council of the Republic in uncontested votes, as each local soviet and executive committee nominates only one candidate.
Eight more members of the Council are to be appointed by Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
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