OREANDA-NEWS. May 13, 2014. President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 214 “Concerning the development of satellite towns”.

The document regulates the establishment of satellite towns and specifies the status of a satellite town which can be given to the town of oblast and district subordination, boroughs near Minsk and oblast capitals.

The resolution to confer the status of a satellite town will be submitted to the Belarusian President by the Council of Ministers on the basis of petitions by the MinskCity Hall, city councils and oblast executive committees taking into account the territorial organization of the Republic of Belarus. General plans of satellite towns will be approved by the President of the Republic of Belarus.

In line with the decree, the status of Minsk’s satellite town will be given to Dzerzhinsk, Zaslavl, Logoisk, Smolevichi, Fanipol and Rudensk. Zhabinka will be the satellite town of Brest, Skidel will be the satellite town of Grodno. These towns meet the criteria for satellite towns. They are located not far from Minsk, Brest and Grodno, have a well-developed transport infrastructure.

The presidential decree regulates the construction of residential housing in satellite towns.

In line with the decree, satellite towns’ development concepts will be worked out as part of the social and economic development programs of corresponding regions. The development concepts will take into account peculiarities of social and cultural development of satellite towns, measures to improve the transport network, employment issues, forecast parameters and other aspects.