two lowest placed teams in 2004 (lokomotiv vitebsk and belshina bobruisk) relegated to first league. lokomotiv minsk won the 2004 first league and were promoted. vedrich-97 rechytsa finished 2nd in first league and were supposed to be promoted as well. however, due to weak club infrastructure they couldn't obtain licence to compete in premiere league and decided to stay in first league. torpedo-ska minsk, who finished 6th in 2004, lost financial support from their sponsor in early 2005 and, after losing almost all their main squad and not having funds to pay entrance fee for next season's premiere league, had to relegate to second league. bff decided not to replace two withdrawn teams with anyone and the league was reduced to 14 clubs. zvezda-va-bgu minsk changed their name to zvezda-bgu minsk.