BELHYDROMET

On May 21, 2026, the 26th International Scientific Conference "Sakharov Readings 2026: environmental problems of the 21st century" opened in Minsk. The conference was dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster.

The opening ceremony of the conference was attended by Mikhail Kavalenka, Deputy Head of Belhydromet, as a representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus.

Mikhail Kavalenka read out a welcome address on behalf of Maxim Lysenko, First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, addressed to the organizers, participants, and guests of the conference.

In his message, Mikhail Kavalenka, on behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus and on his own behalf, congratulated everyone on the opening of the scientific conference dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident. He noted the tremendous work that specialized professionals have carried out over the past forty years to mitigate the consequences of the accident and minimize risks to the population. He expressed confidence that the exchange of knowledge and experience within the framework of the Sakharov Readings would make an important contribution to addressing global environmental challenges and strengthening international cooperation in the field of environmental protection. He wished all participants productive work, new scientific discoveries, and the successful implementation of their creative projects.

Belhydromet fully joins in the congratulations to the conference participants and sincerely wishes them successful and constructive work. For his part, Mikhail Konstantinovich added that it is a great pleasure to take part in the opening of the International Scientific Conference because, over the years of its existence, the Sakharov Readings have become not only a platform for presenting relevant scientific research and developments and a venue for traditional May gatherings of like-minded people, but also a cultural phenomenon shaping the trends of the contemporary environmental agenda.

The main objective of the conference is to unite the efforts of leading scientists and practitioners, university professors, postgraduates, master's students, and students from different countries to assess the impact of technical progress on the environment and human beings, as well as to develop measures to reduce the negative impact of human activity on nature.
Organizers: Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus; Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus; Belarusian State University; International Sakharov Environmental Institute of Belarusian State University.