Viciebsk Regional Council of Deputies

The Viciebsk Regional Council of Deputies (Belarusian: Віцебскі абласны савет дэпутатаў; Russian: Витебский областной Совет депутатов), often shortened to Viciebsk Oblast Council, is the representative legislative body of local self-government for Vitebsk Region in Belarus. It consists of 60 deputies elected under a majoritarian system, and the term of office is four years. The council was founded in February 1917, making it one of the oldest continuously reconstituted regional legislative institutions in the country. The council's authority is defined by Article 121 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus. Its responsibilities include approving programs for the economic and social development of Vitebsk Region and its budget, and reviewing reports on their execution; establishing local taxes and fees; determining the procedures for managing and disposing of communal property; calling local referendums; approving the candidate for chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, who is appointed by the President of Belarus; and electing eight members of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus from Vitebsk Region. The institution traces its origins to the revolutionary councils of 1917. From October 26, 1917, power in Vitebsk and the province passed to the Vitebsk Revolutionary Council of Soldiers' Deputies. On November 14, 1917, under the adopted "Regulation on the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies and the Revolutionary Committee," the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies (Sovdep) became the supreme body of power in the city. On December 8, 1917, the "Regulation on the Executive Committee of the Vitebsk Council" was published. In February 1918, the council was renamed the Vitebsk City Council of Workers', Peasants', and Red Army Deputies (Vitebsk City Council). On April 16, 1920, due to the extraordinary military situation and the front-line position of Vitebsk Province and the city of Vitebsk, the executive committee was liquidated by merging into the Vitebsk Uyezd Military Revolutionary Committee and forming the Vitebsk Uyezd-City Military Revolutionary Committee (ugorvoenrevkom). After the liquidation of the ugorvoenrevkom in December 1920, elections for a new city council were held. Its first meeting took place on May 18, 1921. From that moment, the executive committee was not elected; its functions were performed by the presidium of the Vitebsk Provincial Executive Committee from December 1920 to March 1924, by the Vitebsk Uyezd-City Executive Committee from March to July 1924, and by the Vitebsk Okrug Executive Committee from August 1924 to July 1930. In July 1930, following the abolition of Vitebsk Okrug, the city of Vitebsk was designated an independent administrative-economic unit of republican significance, and from August 25, 1930, the Vitebsk City Council became directly subordinate to the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Byelorussian SSR. The executive committee was still not elected. Departments and sections were formed under the city council presidium and performed its functions. The Vitebsk City Executive Committee resumed its activities in 1939. From that year, the working order of city councils changed: they began to work in sessions. The activities of the oblast council, city council, and city executive committee were suspended due to the German-fascist occupation in June 1941. The Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee and City Executive Committee resumed their activities in November 1943. The first post-war session of the council took place in 1945. The Constitution of the USSR, adopted on October 7, 1977, transformed the Councils of Working People's Deputies into Councils of People's Deputies. On March 15, 1994, at a meeting of the 13th session of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus of the twelfth convocation, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus was adopted.

The Viciebsk Regional Council of Deputies traces its origins to the revolutionary period of 1917. It was founded in February 1917. From October 26, 1917, power in Vitebsk and the province passed to the Vitebsk Revolutionary Council of Soldiers' Deputies. On November 14, 1917, in accordance with the "Regulation on the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies and the Revolutionary Committee" adopted by that body, the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies (Sovdep) became the supreme organ of power in the city. On December 8, 1917, the "Regulation on the Executive Committee of the Vitebsk Council" was published. In February 1918, the council was renamed the Vitebsk City Council of Workers', Peasants', and Red Army Deputies (Vitebsk City Council). On April 16, 1920, due to the extraordinary military situation and the front-line position of Vitebsk Province and the city of Vitebsk, the executive committee was liquidated by merging into the Vitebsk Uyezd Military Revolutionary Committee and forming the Vitebsk Uyezd-City Military Revolutionary Committee (ugorvoenrevkom). After the liquidation of the ugorvoenrevkom in December 1920, elections for a new city council were held. Its first meeting took place on May 18, 1921. From that moment, the executive committee was not elected; its functions were performed by the presidium of the Vitebsk Provincial Executive Committee from December 1920 to March 1924, by the Vitebsk Uyezd-City Executive Committee from March to July 1924, and by the Vitebsk Okrug Executive Committee from August 1924 to July 1930. In July 1930, following the abolition of Vitebsk Okrug, the city of Vitebsk was designated an independent administrative-economic unit of republican significance, and from August 25, 1930, the Vitebsk City Council became directly subordinate to the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Byelorussian SSR. The executive committee was still not elected. Departments and sections were formed under the city council presidium and performed its functions. The Vitebsk City Executive Committee resumed its activities in 1939. From that year, the working order of city councils changed: they began to work in sessions. The activities of the oblast council, city council, and city executive committee were suspended due to the German-fascist occupation in June 1941. The Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee and City Executive Committee resumed their activities in November 1943. The first post-war session of the council took place in 1945. The Constitution of the USSR, adopted on October 7, 1977, transformed the Councils of Working People's Deputies into Councils of People's Deputies. On March 15, 1994, at a meeting of the 13th session of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus of the twelfth convocation, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus was adopted. From that moment, the councils became known as Councils of Deputies. In independent Belarus, the Viciebsk Regional Council of Deputies continues to function as the regional legislative body. Its powers are defined by Article 121 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, which includes approving economic and social development programs and the regional budget, establishing local taxes and fees, determining procedures for managing communal property, calling local referendums, approving the candidate for chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, and electing eight members of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus from Vitebsk Region.

• Founded in February 1917.

• On October 26, 1917, power in Vitebsk and the province passed to the Vitebsk Revolutionary Council of Soldiers' Deputies.

• On November 14, 1917, the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies (Sovdep) became the supreme organ of power in the city.

• On December 8, 1917, the "Regulation on the Executive Committee of the Vitebsk Council" was published.

• In February 1918, the council was renamed the Vitebsk City Council of Workers', Peasants', and Red Army Deputies.

• On April 16, 1920, the executive committee was liquidated and merged into the Vitebsk Uyezd Military Revolutionary Committee.

• In December 1920, after the liquidation of the ugorvoenrevkom, elections for a new city council were held.

• On May 18, 1921, the first meeting of the new city council took place.

• From December 1920 to March 1924, the presidium of the Vitebsk Provincial Executive Committee performed the functions of the executive committee.

• From March to July 1924, the Vitebsk Uyezd-City Executive Committee performed the functions of the executive committee.

• From August 1924 to July 1930, the Vitebsk Okrug Executive Committee performed the functions of the executive committee.

• In July 1930, following the abolition of Vitebsk Okrug, the city of Vitebsk was designated an independent administrative-economic unit of republican significance.

• From August 25, 1930, the Vitebsk City Council became directly subordinate to the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Byelorussian SSR.

• In 1939, the Vitebsk City Executive Committee resumed its activities, and city councils began to work in sessions.

• In June 1941, the activities of the oblast council, city council, and city executive committee were suspended due to the German-fascist occupation.

• In November 1943, the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee and City Executive Committee resumed their activities.

• In 1945, the first post-war session of the council took place.

• On October 7, 1977, the Constitution of the USSR transformed the Councils of Working People's Deputies into Councils of People's Deputies.

• On March 15, 1994, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus was adopted, and the councils became known as Councils of Deputies.

Regional legislative body of local self-government in Vitebsk Region, Belarus

1. 1Viciebsk Regional Council of Deputies - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Витебский областной Совет депутатов - Wikipedia (Russian)ru.wikipedia.org