On the Meeting of the Collegium of the Department for Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus

On October 27, 2026, a meeting of the Collegium of the Department for Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus (hereinafter referred to as the «Department») took place, with the participation of Deputy Minister of Justice O.N.Kot.

The meeting addressed the following agenda items: «Progress in the implementation of the action plan for the transfer and receipt of archival fonds, registration data, and scientific reference aids to the State Archive of the City of Minsk» and «Implementation by national archival institutions of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No.5 dated December 15, 2014, «On Strengthening Requirements for Executive Personnel and Employees of Organizations».

Regarding the first item, A.V.Kochetkova, Deputy Head of the Division for Records Management, Development, and Preservation of the National Archival Fonds, delivered a report. She noted that the completion of the landmark project to establish the State Archive of the City of Minsk is expected in December 2026.

Pursuant to a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated August 23, 2022, amendments were made to the Council of Ministers’ Resolution No.243 of March 20, 2012, «On the Approval of the System of State Archival Institutions of the Republic of Belarus». These amendments incorporated the «State Archive of the City of Minsk» into the system, with the «City of Minsk» designated as its service area.

The coordinating role of the Department in executing the action plan for the transfer and receipt of archival fonds, registration data, and scientific reference aids to the State Archive of the City of Minsk was highlighted. Amendments have been made to the codes for archival repositories and state archival institutions, including those related to the establishment of the State Archive of the City of Minsk (Order of the Department Director No.30, dated March 31, 2026).

Finalized lists have been approved for the «state complex» fonds (555 fonds, 237,744 files) and the «party complex» fonds (667 fonds, 260,280 files) slated for transfer from the State Archive of the Minsk Region to the State Archive of the City of Minsk. Also approved were a list of 206 organizations in the city of Minsk—as of January 1, 2026—that serve as sources of acquisition for the State Archive of the Minsk Region and are to be transferred to the State Archive of the City of Minsk, as well as a list of 70 organizations in the city of Minsk—also as of January 1, 2026—that serve as sources of acquisition for the State Archive of the Minsk Region but have not yet transferred any documents for storage (Minutes of the meeting of the Department’s Central Expert-Methodological Commission No.3, dated June 26, 2026).

Particular attention was given to the issue of partitioning the «Automated Information System of the State Archive» database. This is to be achieved by developing «Transfer of Registration Information» and «Receipt of Registration Information» software modules, which will facilitate the process of transferring and receiving archival documents, fonds, and associated registration data.

E.D.Zayats, Director of the State Archive of the City of Minsk, and M.L.Demidko, Director of the State Archive of the Minsk Region, served as co-presenters on the first agenda item.

E.D.Zayats noted that the State Archive of the City of Minsk was registered in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs on September 7, 2026. Currently, the archive has established its financial framework, is systematically and incrementally developing its procurement processes, is calculating the logistics for the transfer of archival holdings, and is in the process of recruiting staff.

M.L.Demidko confirmed that the State Archive of the Minsk Region is prepared to transfer documents and noted that the verification of the existence of these documents is nearing completion.

Following the discussion of the first agenda item, a roadmap was proposed for the steps required to begin the operations of the State Archive of the City of Minsk in 2027.

In her remarks on the second agenda item, I.Yu.Sargan, Deputy Head of the Department for Organizational and Analytical Work, Finance, and Accounting, focused on analyzing staff turnover, the reasons for employee departures, and measures to retain qualified specialists. She also emphasized that a perfunctory approach to meeting the requirements established by the Decree is unacceptable.

N.T.Buloychik, Deputy Director of the National Historical Archives of Belarus, delivered a co-report on the measures taken to implement the Decree within that institution.

Following the discussion, tasks were defined to improve human resources management, reduce staff turnover, and strengthen oversight of labor discipline. Particular emphasis was placed on the necessity of conducting mandatory exit surveys for departing employees to identify the underlying causes of staff attrition.

1. Meeting of the Collegium of the Department for Archives and Records Management.

2. A.V.Kochetkova, Deputy Head of the Department for Records Management, Development, and Preservation of the National Archival Fonds, speaks

3. E.D.Zayats, Director of the State Archive of the City of Minsk

4. M.L.Demidko, Director of the State Archive of the Minsk Region

5. The Deputy Head of the Organizational Department speaks of analytical work, financing, and accounting — I.Yu.Sargan

6. A co-report will be presented by N.T.Buloychik, Deputy Director of the National Historical Archives of Belarus