A cozy, green corner on the map of Lidsky district – Beryozovka – is actually living a vibrant life. Here, not only are the traditions of glassblowing mastery being preserved, but they are also boldly looking to the future: building, renovating, attracting investments, and supporting civic initiatives. The chairman of the Beryozovka City Executive Committee, Valery Evodik, told a correspondent of the Lidskaya Gazeta newspaper about what the city is breathing today and what it will become tomorrow.

– Valery Anatolyevich, Beryozovka is often called a quiet, cozy town. How do you see it today – is it more of a quiet haven or a dynamically developing city? And what does Beryozovka personally mean to you?

– Undoubtedly, it is a dynamically developing city. Every year, we compile and approve a development plan at a session of the city council. We listen to organizations about the implementation of events included in the program. If we talk about the current moment, then the planned work on improvement and current repairs for 2026 has been completed by more than 70 percent. The maintenance of streets, courtyard areas, and additional landscaping in some places remains in the process. The issue of servicing and current repairs to the city toilet was relevant this year. The process is currently underway, and we will complete the repairs and launch it this year. In principle, all social infrastructure is working: kindergartens, schools, hospitals, and social services for the population. The infrastructure that exists in the city allows citizens to live at a good level.

For me personally, Beryozovka is the city where I live, where my family lives, where my wife is from, and where my children were born. I have been living in Beryozovka since 1995, for 31 years already. I have been in the position of chairman of the city executive committee for 20 years. Beryozovka is the populated area where I work and dream that it will develop and become even better than it is now.

– The Neman glass factory is not just a factory, it's the soul and history of the city. What role does it play in the life of Beryozovka?

– Beryozovka was formed around the Neman glass factory. Initially, it was just a factory, then the enterprise built housing for workers. Now these are some of the central streets: Lenin, Zavodskaya, Komarov, Dzerzhinsky, and Komsomolskaya. Barracks for workers were once built here, which essentially became the backbone of the future city. Then several nearby villages were added to it, and the Beryozovka settlement formed a city.

The glass factory is currently the city-forming enterprise and the workplace for the largest number of economically active citizens. We have around 5,000 able-bodied citizens, and 1,200 of them are factory workers. Almost every family, both in the past and now, has a connection to the factory. In any case, the factory and the city are inseparable, they are one whole. We work together in tandem.

• How actively is small business developing in the city?

– Since we are classified as a small urban settlement with a population of up to 20,000 people, we have a certain preferential tax treatment for the development of small businesses. Our citizens take advantage of this. About ten small enterprises were opened last year, and several more this year. These are mainly trade, catering, and freight services. There are not many production enterprises, we would like to see more. However, according to the general plan, there are no free territories outside the factory for the development of production capacities. And within the city limits, the territories are already in the hands of private businesses, which are developing dynamically: freight services, car repairs, warehouses, trade objects, woodworking, and glass decoration.

– In recent years, the appearance of Beryozovka has changed significantly. Which amenities do you consider the most important?

– Every year, a plan of activities is developed. This year, we have about 78 points for the development of the city. They are all different: from asphalt paving of an entire street to replacing sidewalk tiles on certain sections. All objects are important. For one person, a path is important, for another – a fully asphalted road, for a third – housing. We approach all objects with all our heart.

The most large-scale ones this year are the asphalt paving of Oktyabrskaya Street (about 640 meters) and the major repair of two five-story residential buildings. According to the program approved by the Lida District Executive Committee, 2-3 houses undergo major repairs every year. I think that in this five-year period, we will complete the major repairs of multi-apartment five-story buildings, and only a few two-story houses will remain. And the entire city's housing stock will be renovated. We are also working on the improvement of courtyard areas. I would like to express my great gratitude for the support of our city to the chairman of the Lida District Executive Committee, Alexander Lyudvigovich Versotsky.

• How relevant is the housing issue for Beryozovka?

– We have a waiting list for housing. While residential buildings are not being constructed, our dormitory on ul. Shkольной has been included in the investment program of the Lidsky district. Currently, project documentation is being developed, and after reconstruction, we plan to convert it into rental housing. These will be apartments, and citizens, according to their submitted applications, will be able to receive them. We also have several land plots for individual construction. Whenever rental or social housing becomes available, these apartments are distributed according to the waiting list. Rental housing is in high demand here. In this regard, we work together with the Lidsky district executive committee.

• Berёzovka is known for its active residents. Which initiatives have received support?

– Since the amendments to the Law on Local Government and Self-Government came into effect, when the concept of "civil initiatives" appeared at the legislative level, we have been actively working in this direction. Over the course of 2024-2025, three civil initiatives of a sports and leisure nature have been implemented in the city. Two grounds with outdoor exercise equipment have been built, one workout area. Plus, playgrounds for children have been installed. The third initiative is the installation of gazebos on the lake for family recreation – they are in high demand. All objects have been built thanks to civil initiatives, which implies financing from the regional budget (90%) and participation of the citizens themselves (10% of the total cost).

As for initiatives in 2026, we submitted applications, but unfortunately, our two initiatives made it to the final but did not become winners. A competition for 2027 has now been announced. Four applications will be submitted from Berёzovka. Our citizens remain active. These are initiatives of a cultural and leisure, patriotic and ideological nature, youth initiatives, as well as projects for animal care and further improvement of our lake, a favorite recreation spot for city residents.

We are not standing still. This year, one initiative of our residents was implemented on their own. Literally, on September 17, on the Day of People's Unity, a sports workout area with anti-vandal equipment was opened. This initiative came from our compatriot, a member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, director of the GP "Konys" Andrey Petrovich Zhamoyda. I want to thank him and all the people who support our city. He had the idea to install this facility on the territory of the second school. But we went a little further... I picked up this idea - we decided to attract sponsors: LLC "Alfasport", a well-known company in the republic that deals with sports facilities. It provided us with sponsorship assistance in installing the equipment. And the territory was prepared by our residents. The facility is already in high demand among the population. I have visited it several times in the evening. The equipment is not idle. There are always some teenagers, adults, or children there.

Thanks to Andrey Petrovich, the physical culture and sports club has been provided with a coating that we will be able to lay on this site by the end of this year with the help of volunteers. It will become safer. Despite the fact that we did not win the regional competition, but with the help of our citizens, we were able to achieve something on our own.

• How easy is it for an ordinary resident to get in touch with the authorities today?
• Officially, getting an appointment with the chairman is not a problem at all. There are reception days, there is a phone that works like a "direct phone line". In addition, any day, being at my workplace in my office, if one of our citizens comes, I will receive them. They won't have to wait. The only thing is that if I'm busy, they'll have to wait a little. When I visit various facilities, people approach me, ask me or the executive committee staff something. There is no refusal to communicate with anyone. Refusals can only be in the explanation if the appeal is unjustified or illegal, then we explain what needs to be done or where to apply. I think there is trust in us, and it is mutual.
• What is Beryozovka proud of?

– Undoubtedly, by our factory workers. And this has been the case for the entire 140 years of the factory's existence. A person of labor is someone the entire city takes pride in. We have people who have been included on the Lidsky District's Board of Honor, there is a resident of Berezovka who has been awarded the title "Person of the Year of Grodno Region", and there are also honorary citizens of Lidsky District. Thanks to the initiative of the chairman of the district executive committee, for the second year in a row, an event has been held to honor veteran workers who have been awarded medals and orders for their labor achievements. We also have such citizens, and we actively honor and congratulate them. Our Berezovka takes pride in them. As for the social sphere, education, and medicine, there are also worthy individuals who work or are already enjoying a well-deserved rest. We know, respect, and appreciate them. There are also our fellow countrymen who work outside of Berezovka – they are well-known and respected, and we are also proud of them.

• What do you envision Berezovka will be like in five years?

– There is a strong desire to develop the city, there are initiatives from the people, and there is support from the higher authorities of the district and even the region, so in any case, in five years, the city will be even better, more beautiful, and more well-maintained.

• If you had the opportunity to implement one mega-project in Berezovka without considering the budget, what would it be?

– First and foremost, in order to develop dynamically, we need jobs and the development of the city-forming enterprise – the glass factory. Therefore, I wish that the projects that come from the minds of our factory workers would be implemented. I would very much like the project for the development of the glass factory, which is currently being developed, to be continued, financed, and implemented. This will allow our factory to exist, and the city to continue developing. This will create new jobs, high-paying work, and social infrastructure. All of this together will be our mega-project.