Boris Vasilyevich Batura

File:Main building of BNTU.jpg (BNTU), graduating in 1970 with a degree in mechanical engineering.]]

Batura was born on 28 July 1947 in Vawkavysk in Grodno Region of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.{{cite web |title=Батура {{!}} Члены Савета Рэспублікі |url=https://www.sovrep.gov.by/special/by/senators-by/view/batura-barys-by-351/ |website=www.sovrep.gov.by |access-date=19 February 2025}} In 1970 he graduated from the Belarusian National Technical University with a degree in mechanical engineering.{{cite web |title=БОРИС БАТУРА ВСЕГДА ЛЮБИЛ ТОЧНЫЕ НАУКИ. А ЕГО БУДУЩАЯ СУПРУГА ТАМАРА, БЫВАЛО, СПИСЫВАЛА У НЕГО В ШКОЛЕ |url=https://libmogilev.by/stars/articles/batura/47.pdf |website=libmogilev.by |access-date=20 February 2025}}{{cite web |title=Alumni |url=https://bntu.by/en/departments/msf/pages/msf-vypuskniki |website=bntu.by |access-date=20 February 2025}} Prior to 1973, he worked as a shop foreman, process engineer, and was head of the technical control department UZH-15/11 of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee.{{cite web |title=БАТУРА Борис Васильевич |url=http://who.bdg.by/cat.php?&kod=140&idi=141 |access-date=20 February 2025 |date=17 November 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117073142/http://who.bdg.by/cat.php?&kod=140&idi=141 | archive-date=17 November 2011 }}

From 1973 to 1979 he was Head of the Volkovysk Combine of Utilities, another department of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee.{{cite news |last1=Царикевич |first1=Наталья |title=«Если не строишь — значит погибнешь». Какими еще принципами руководствуется экс-губернатор Минщины |url=https://mlyn.by/05122022/esli-ne-stroish-znachit-pogibnesh-kakimi-eshhe-princzipami-rukovodstvuetsya-eks-gubernator-minshhiny/ |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=Minskaya Pravda |date=5 December 2022}} Then, form 1979 to 1983, he was Deputy Head of the Department of Housing and Communal Services alongside the Department of Mechanics and Energy in Grodno. He rose through the ranks of the Housing Department to become First Deputy Head then Head of the department by 1987.

In 1987 he became Deputy Minister of Housing and Communal Service of the BSSR and Deputy Chairman of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee, positions he held until his appointment as minister in 1990.{{cite news |title=Батура стаў сьпікерам савету рэспублікі |url=https://nashaniva.com/21191 |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=Наша Ніва |date=31 October 2008 |language=be}}

In 1990, he became Minister of Housing and Communal Services.

His main project as Minister of Housing was the development of the Law on Privatization of the Housing Fund, which transferred housing from state to private ownership and was adapted in 1993.

In June 1999 he officially left the position.{{cite web |title=Председатель Совета Республики Национального собрания Республики Беларусь |url=https://www.sb.by/articles/predsedatel-soveta-respubliki-natsionalnogo-sobraniya-respubliki-belarus.html?ysclid=m7dnio75bj22996857 |website=www.sb.by |access-date=20 February 2025 |language=ru-RU |date=1 November 2008}} Briefly afterwards he was the Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus from 28 June 1999 to November 2000.{{cite web |title=Указ Президента Республики Беларусь №345 от 25.06.1999г. |url=http://kaznachey.com/doc/6DzsKqdJ5iT/ |website=kaznachey.com |access-date=21 February 2025}}

From November 2000, he was Chairman of the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee.

He was widely credited with reversing economical hardships in Mogilev, making it have good economic performance and attract foreign investors, most of whom are Russian.{{cite news |title=Шапіру прызначылі кіраўніком Гродзенскай вобласці, Батуру — Мінскай |url=https://nashaniva.com/?c=ar&i=38766 |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=Наша Ніва |date=20 May 2010 |language=be}} Some of the foreign investment projects he helped bring to Mogilev, which would later go nationwide, include Servolux, Syabar, Old Fortress, and Belatmit.{{cite news |title=Шуневич, Зайцев, Батура: где работают бывшие крупные чиновники «на пенсии» |url=https://news.zerkalo.io/economics/4753.html?ysclid=m7fc9qb7ql900650510 |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=Зеркало |date=25 October 2021 |language=ru}}

He left the post in order to become speaker on 31 October 2008. For his work in Mogilev, he was given the highest reward - an honorary diploma - by Valery Ilyankov who was head of the work department and Batura stated that he wished it would become the best city in the future.{{cite news |title=У Магілёве Барысу Батуру на развітанне падаравалі букет кветак {{!}} Навіны Беларусі {{!}} euroradio.fm |url=https://euroradio.fm/u-magilyove-barysu-baturu-na-razvitanne-padaravali-buket-kvetak |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=Euroradio |date=3 November 2008 |language=be}}

On 31 October 2008 he was nominated to be Speaker of the Council of Republics by Gennady Novitsky, and was appointed to the position later that day with no discourse.{{cite web |title=Head of Mahileu Region Barys Batura becomes head of Council of Republic {{!}} Belarus news ❘ euroradio.fm |url=https://euroradio.fm/en/head-mahileu-region-barys-batura-becomes-head-council-republic |website=euroradio.fm |access-date=19 February 2025 |language=en |date=31 October 2008}} He had previously been a member of the Council in the second and third convocations.{{cite web |title=Б.Батура избран председателем Совета Республики Национального собрания четвертого созыва {{!}} Новости республики {{!}} {{!}} Шарковщинский район {{!}} Шарковщина {{!}} Новости Шарковщины {{!}} Новости Шарковщинского района {{!}} Шарковщинский райисполком |url=https://www.sharkovshchina.vitebsk-region.gov.by/special/ru/republic-ru/view/bbatura-izbran-predsedatelem-soveta-respubliki-natsionalnogo-sobranija-chetvertogo-sozyva-1646/ |website=www.sharkovshchina.vitebsk-region.gov.by |access-date=20 February 2025}} He was appointed a member of the Standing Committee on Regional Policy and Local Self-Government during his time in the Council of the Republic.{{cite web |title=ПОСТАНОВЛЕНИЕ СОВЕТА РЕСПУБЛИКИ НАЦИОНАЛЬНОГО СОБРАНИЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ БЕЛАРУСЬ 28 мая 2010 г. № 254-СР4/IV |url=https://normativka.by/lib/document/500079041?ysclid=m7fbtpgzmf690605699 |website=normativka.by |access-date=21 February 2025}}

He rejected calls for the abolition of the death penalty, saying that many citizens believed in it for serious crimes.{{cite news |title=Weißrussland hält vorerst an Todesstrafe fest |url=https://todesstrafe.de/archiv/3163/Weissrussland_haelt_vorerst_an_Todesstrafe_fest.html |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=Todesstrafe |date=17 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508163846/https://todesstrafe.de/archiv/3163/Weissrussland_haelt_vorerst_an_Todesstrafe_fest.html |archive-date=8 May 2010 }} He proposed a series of preparatory measures instead, including forming and monitoring public opinion about the death penalty.{{cite news |title=Minsk not to abandon death penalty soon |url=https://spring96.org/en/news/30682 |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=Spring 96 |agency=Deutsche Walle |date=18 December 2009 |language=en}} He also welcomed a delegation from Iran, with Batura meeting Ali Larijani and Manouchehr Mottaki, and he stated that there should be close integration between the two nations.{{cite news |title=Iran, Belarus can put energy cooperation on top of agenda |url=https://www.data.minsk.by/belarusnews/062009/302.html |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=Belarus News and Analysis |date=24 June 2009}} Batura also said that Iran was the country's most important partner in the Middle East.{{cite web |title="New" Human Rights in Belarus & Iran in 2009? |url=http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/100702 |access-date=20 February 2025 |date=6 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506072028/http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/100702 |archive-date=6 May 2009 }}

On 20 May 2010, he stepped down as chairman to become Chairman of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee.

File:Great Stone industrial park (Belarus) — Индустриальный парк Великий камень (Беларусь) 2.jpg (pictured here).]]

On 20 May 2010, it was announced that Batura would become Chairman of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee, which was described as unexpected due to the fact he had been with Mogilev for a long time.

A primary focus of his administration was in mining, with him helping persuade two major investment projects: a chemical plant for raw minerals and another for the production of NPK fertilizers.{{cite news |title=Минская область обладает экономическим, социально-культурным и кадровым потенциалом для решения сложных задач |url=https://belta.by/interview/view/minskaja-oblast-obladaet-ekonomicheskim-sotsialno-kulturnym-i-kadrovym-potentsialom-dlja-reshenija-slozhnyh-za-3942/ |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=Belta |date=14 January 2013}} The construction of the $5 billion China–Belarus Industrial Park in Smolevichi became an important part of his administration with planning of up to 600,000 Chinese employees to work there within 30 years, alongside another Chinese facility in Borisov for the assembly of cars.{{cite news |title=Infrastructure of Belarusian-Chinese industrial park to cost $5-6bn |url=https://eng.belta.by/economics/view/infrastructure-of-belarusian-chinese-industrial-park-to-cost-5-6bn-18611-2012 |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=eng.belta.by |date=14 March 2012 |language=en-EN}}{{cite news |title=China builds a 5 billion dollar city in Belarus |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/china-builds-a-5-billion-dollar-city-in-belarus/articleshow/20302738.cms |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=The Economic Times |date=28 May 2013}} He also focused on the livestock industry in Minsk, particularly in creating pig breeding complexes instead of small farms. Another major project was the assembly of electric trains in a joint Belarusian-Swiss venture by Belkommunmash Holding Management Company and Stadler Rail Group.{{cite news |title=Борис Батура: «Не командовать, а создавать условия для работы» |url=https://director.by/zhurnal/arkhiv-zhurnala/arkhiv-nomerov-2012/105--8-158-/3507--l-r?ysclid=m7fca3j7d6796550346 |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=Директор |date=12 September 2012}}

He was abruptly fired on 8 November 2013, a day after Lukashenko took a tour of the Borisovdrev timber mill, which had not been gone through with modernization efforts after a year, and Lukashenko said Batura should instead run the factory.{{cite news |last1=Dashchynski |first1=Ales |last2=Sindelar |first2=Daisy |title=Lukashenka Fells Longtime Ally, Leaving Belarus-Watchers Stumped |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-industry-sacking-lukashenka/25169454.html |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=15 November 2013 |language=en}} Batura refused to run the mill and said he was going into an early retirement. Soon after he criticized Lukashenko, saying he was ready to be arrested and that "we are not free people anyway".{{cite web |title=Fired Belarusian Official: 'We Are Not Free' |url=https://www.ecoi.net/en/document/1057228.html |website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |access-date=19 February 2025 |language=en |date=12 November 2013}}

From 1999 to 2013 he headed the Volleyball Federation of Belarus, which he left following his firing as Chairman of the Minsk Executive Committee.{{cite web |title=Head of Investigation Committee becomes head of Volleyball Federation {{!}} Belarus news ❘ euroradio.fm |url=https://euroradio.fm/en/head-investigation-committee-becomes-head-volleyball-federation |website=euroradio.fm |access-date=19 February 2025 |language=en |date=16 October 2014}} He was appointed honorary chairman afterwards, and was succeeded by Valyantsin Shayeu. In the past he was also Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia, Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Community, a member of the assembly of the CIS, and a member of the Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.{{cite web |title=Batura {{!}} List of members of the Council of the Republic {{!}} Brief information |url=https://sovrep.gov.by/en/senators-en/view/batura-boris-en-77/ |website=sovrep.gov.by |access-date=21 February 2025}}

After leaving his political positions, he continued as Chairman of the Belarusian organization "Twin Cities" which he held since 28 December 2010.{{cite news |title=Борис Батура: Побратимское движение - маленькие звенья большой дружбы |url=https://belta.by/interview/view/pobratimskoe-dvizhenie-malenkie-zvenjja-bolshoj-druzhby-7603/ |access-date=20 February 2025 |work=Белорусское телеграфное агентство |date=31 December 2020 |language=ru-RU}} Twin Cities helps the development of the international sister city movements, with the organization's particular focus being on promoting Belarusian cities abroad. He has worked in this role to bring mutual cooperation in the relationship between Russia and Belarus.{{cite news |title=Батура: белорусско-российские отношения стали примером движения навстречу друг другу |url=https://belta.by/politics/view/batura-belorussko-rossijskie-otnoshenija-stali-primerom-dvizhenija-navstrechu-drug-drugu-590972-2023/?ysclid=m7fabotfmt566565743 |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=Belta |date=29 September 2023}} He also became a member of the board of directors of a mining and drilling operation called Soligorsk JSC "Trust Shakhtospetsstroy" and a member of the Council of Elders. The Council of Elders was recently created in December 2020 for former members of the Council of the Republic to discuss the socio-economic development of Belarus.{{cite news |title=«Цель нашей работы — сохранение независимости». В Беларуси есть Совет старейшин, о котором вы ничего не знаете, — рассказываем |url=https://news.zerkalo.io/economics/2759.html |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=Зеркало |date=10 September 2021 |language=ru}}

Batura lives in Drazdy, an elite village in the outskirts of Minsk.{{cite news |title=Ад Абельскай да Ярмошынай: 113 уладальнікаў катэджаў у Драздах, поўны… |url=https://archive.today/20190619083332/https://nn.by/?c=ar&i=155262#selection-1313.0-1326.0 |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=Наша Ніва |date=19 June 2019}} More than 100 representatives close to Lukashenko live in the village, and based off the pricing of the houses his net income is at least $1 million. According to a 2012 interview with the state-owned CTV channel he drives to work himself, has a salary of about $14 million, and his only hobby is tennis.{{cite news |title=Пяць фактаў пра Барыса Батуру |url=https://gazetaby.com/post/pyacz-faktau-pra-barysa-baturu/63955/ |access-date=21 February 2025 |work=Gazetaby |date=8 November 2013}} Batura is married.{{cite web |title=Борис Батура – человек государственных интересов (Видео) |url=http://belarus.kulichki.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1430&Itemid=1 |website=belarus.kulichki.net |access-date=21 February 2025}}

• Order of the Badge of Honour (1986){{cite book |title=Kto estʹ kto v Belarusi |date=2001 |publisher=Knizhnyĭ dom "Universitet" |isbn=978-985-6544-16-6 |page=26 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mpcrAQAAIAAJ&q=%20%D0%91%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0%20%221986%22 |access-date=20 February 2025 |language=ru}}
• Order of the Fatherland, III degree (21 November 2001){{cite web |title=Аб узнагароджаннi работнiкаў дзяржаўных органаў, органаў унутраных спраў i ваеннаслужачых дзяржаўнымi ўзнагародамi Рэспублiкi Беларусь |url=http://pravo.kulichki.com/zak/year2001/doc13282.htm |website=pravo.kulichki.com |access-date=19 February 2025}}
• Order of Honour (29 July 2004){{cite web |title=DPRM1948/2004 |url=https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=55314&lang=ru |website=www.legis.md |access-date=19 February 2025 |language=ru}}
• Certificate of Honor of the Government of Moscow (10 December 2004){{cite web |title=О награждении Почетной грамотой Правительства Москвы - docs.cntd.ru |url=https://docs.cntd.ru/document/3656565 |access-date=19 February 2025 |date=21 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621081038/https://docs.cntd.ru/document/3656565 |archive-date=21 June 2021 }}
• Order of the Fatherland, II degree (30 August 2007){{cite web |title=1/8847 (31.08.2007) |url=https://pravo.by/document/?guid=2012&oldDoc=2007-213%2F2007-213%28005-008%29.pdf&oldDocPage=1 |website=pravo.by |access-date=19 February 2025}}
• IPA CIS 25 Years (CIS; 27 March 2017){{cite web |title=Совета Межпарламентской Ассамблеи государств — участников Содружества Независимых Государств О награждении медалью «МпА СНГ. 25 лет»|url=https://old.iacis.ru/upload/iblock/b32/inform.pdf|page=52|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723185524/https://old.iacis.ru/upload/iblock/b32/inform.pdf |access-date=19 February 2025|archive-date=23 July 2022 }}
• Honorary citizen of Mogilev (2008){{cite web |title=Батура Борис Васильевич- "Площадь звезд" |url=https://libmogilev.by/stars/batura.html |website=libmogilev.by |access-date=20 February 2025}}

• Order of Saint Cyril of Turov (Belarusian Orthodox Church; 2007){{cite web |title=Губернатор Борис Батура награжден орденом Кирилла Туровского |url=http://news.tut.by/society/92327.html |website=news.tut.by |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204013741/http://news.tut.by/society/92327.html |access-date=19 February 2025|archive-date=4 December 2008 }}
• Order of Glory and Honor, III degree (Russian Orthodox Church; 2013){{cite web |title=Святейший Патриарх Кирилл: Празднуя 1025-летие Крещения Руси, мы замыкаем связь времен / Новости / Патриархия.ru |url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/3136810.html |website=Патриархия.ru |access-date=19 February 2025 |language=ru}}
• Order of the Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk (Belarusian Orthodox Church; 2017){{cite web |title=Свидетельство № 5-02/084 от 30 августа 2017 года |url=http://pravminsk.by/doc/nagrady/svidetelstvo-n-5-02084-ot-30-avgusta-2017-goda |website=pravminsk.by |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121182943/http://pravminsk.by/doc/nagrady/svidetelstvo-n-5-02084-ot-30-avgusta-2017-goda |access-date=19 February 2025|archive-date=21 January 2025 }}

{{reflist}}

Category:Belarusian politicians

Category:Living people

Category:1947 births

Category:Belarusian engineers

Category:Speakers of the Council of the Republic of Belarus

Category:People from Vawkavysk

Category:20th-century Belarusian politicians

Category:21st-century Belarusian politicians

Category:Government ministers of Belarus

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