Belarus

Belarus (Belarusian: Беларусь, romanization Belarus), officially known as the Republic of Belarus or Republic of Belarus (Belarusian: Рэспубл_ка Беларусь, romanization Respúblika Belarus); (in Russian, Республика Белоруссия, romanization Respúblika Belorússiya), is a sovereign landlocked country located in Eastern Europe, and which formed part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) until 1991. It limits to the north with Lithuania and Latvia, to the east with the Russian Federation, to the south with Ukraine and to the west with Poland. The capital is Minsk.

The majority of the population of Belarus (almost 10 million inhabitants) lives in the urban areas around Minsk or in the capitals of the other provinces. More than 80% of the population are native Belarusians, and the rest the they make up minorities of Russians, Poles and Ukrainians. Since a referendum held in 1995, the country has had two official languages: Belarusian and Russian. The main creed in the country is Christianity, mainly the Russian Orthodox; the second most popular Christian branch, Catholicism, has a much smaller following by comparison.

It is a completely flat country (it does not exceed 300 meters above sea level), divided into three well-differentiated geographical zones: the north, abundant in lakes; the central forested plateau and the southern part, very swampy and uninhabited, called the Pinsk Marshes.

Formerly called White Russia, Belarusians lacked the opportunity to create a distinctive national identity until the century. XX, because for centuries the lands of present-day Belarus belonged to several ethnically different countries, such as the Principality of Polatsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. After the brief existence of the Belarusian National Republic (1918-1919), Belarus became a constituent republic of the USSR, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.

The final unification of Belarus, roughly within its modern borders, took place in 1939, when the Russian-Belarusian lands held by the Second Polish Republic (1918-1939) were annexed to the Soviet Union under the terms of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact after the Soviet invasion of Poland. The territory of this country was devastated in World War II, during which Belarus lost around a third of its population and more than half of its economic resources. The Republic was rehabilitated in the years after the war.

The Supreme Soviet (parliament) of the Byelorussian SSR declared the sovereignty of Belarus on July 27, 1990 (see Sovereignties parade) and, on August 25, 1991, Belarus declared itself independent. After the signing of the Belavezha Treaty on December 8, 1991 and the subsequent dissolution of the USSR, Belarus gained independence. Aleksandr Lukashenko has been the country's president since 1994. During his presidency, Lukashenko has implemented Soviet-era policies, such as state ownership of the economy, despite objections from Western governments. Since 2000, Belarus and Russia have signed a treaty for further cooperation with some hints of the formation of a Union State.

The country is considered a dictatorship by all indices of democratic quality. The report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Belarus, Anaïs Marin, condemns the unprecedented escalation of human rights violations in the country, highlighting, among other things, the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of citizens, the torture, cruel punishment, disappearances and the total absence of freedom of expression in the country.

In 2018, Belarus ranks 53 out of 189 countries in the UN Human Development Index and is in the group of countries with "very high development". With an efficient healthcare system, it has a very low infant mortality rate of 2.9 (compared to 6.6 in Russia or 3.7 in the UK). The rate of doctors per capita is 40.7 per 10,000 inhabitants (the figure is 26.7 in Romania, 32 in Finland and 41.9 in Sweden) and the literacy rate is estimated at 99%. According to the United Nations Development Program, the Gini coefficient (inequality indicator) is one of the lowest, and therefore egalitarian, in Europe.

Etymology

Belarus means White Ruthenia in Slavonic: Biely = White + Russ, name of the Rus, the historical population of the Khaganate of Rus and Kievan Rus. For this reason, especially when it was under the rule of the Russian Tsarate, the region was called in Spanish Rusia Blanca.

The name Belarus is derived from the term White Russia, which first appeared in medieval German and Latin literature. The Latin term for the region was Alba Ruthenia. Historically, the country was referred to in English as White Ruthenia. It is also claimed that White Ruthenia describes the area of Eastern Europe populated by Slavs or the states that occupied the area. The first known use of the term White Russia to refer to to Belarus took place at the end of the 16th century by the Englishman Jerome Horsey. During the XVII, the tsars of Russia used the term White Rus to refer to this country, stating that they were trying to recover their heritage from the Polish-Lithuanian Community.

This territory was named Belarus (Russian: Белоруссия, Belarussiya) in the days of the Russian Empire. Belarus was the only Russian name for the country until 1991, when the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR decreed by law that the newly independent republic was to be called Belarus (Belarusian: Беларусь) in Russian and all other language transcriptions of his name. The change was made to properly reflect the Belarusian language form of the name.

Consequently, the name Belarus was replaced by Belarus in English and other languages, and to some extent in Russian (although this is the traditional name that still persists in that language); similarly, the adjective Byelorussian was replaced by Belarusian in English (although Russia has not developed a new adjective). Belarusian intellectuals in Stalin's time attempted to change the name Belarus to a form of Krivia due to the alleged connection to Russia. Some nationalists also oppose the naming for the same reason. However, several local popular newspapers still retain the old Russian name of the country in their names, for example, the Komsomolskaya Pravda v Byelorussia. Furthermore, those who want Belarus to be annexed in the future with Russia continue to use Belarus. Most Belarusians use both names interchangeably. Officially, the full name of the country is the Republic of Belarus (Рэспубл_ка Беларусь, Республика Беларусь, Respúblika Belarus').

However, the Royal Spanish Academy and the Fundéu BBVA (Fundación del Español Urgente) continue to prefer the use of the Belarusian form in Spanish.

History

Antiquity

The Rus of Kiev during its maximum expansion, centuryXI.

The region known today as Belarus was settled by Slavic tribes in the VI century. He gradually came into contact with the Varangians, a warrior group consisting of Scandinavians and Baltic Slavs. Although defeated and briefly driven out by the local population, the Varangians were later allowed to return and helped form a political entity. —commonly known as Kievan Rus— in exchange for tribute. The state of Kievan Rus began in about 862 around the city of kyiv, and alternately around the present-day city of Novgorod.

Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Republic of Two Nations and Russian Empire

Map of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland in the Republic of Two Nations, 1619.

Magnus Ducatus Lithuania, Tobias Lotter, 1780.

With the death of the Kievan Rus' ruler, Prince Yaroslav I the Wise, the division of the state into independent principalities began. These Ruthenian principalities were badly affected by the Mongol invasion in the XIII, and many were later incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Of the principalities held by the Duchy, nine were established by the ancestors of the Byelorussian people. During this time, the duchy was involved in various military campaigns, including fighting on the Polish side against the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. The joint victory allowed the Duchy to control the borderlands of the Belorussian Northwestern Eastern Europe.

On February 2, 1386, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland were united by a marriage of their rulers. This union set in motion the events that ultimately led to the formation of the Polish Commonwealth- Lithuania, created in 1569. The golden age ended with the Republic of the Deluge. The Russians, led by Tsar Ivan III, began a reconquest, in 1486, in an attempt to reunify the Kievan Rus' lands, in particular Belarus and the Ukraine. The union between Poland and Lithuania was concluded in 1795, and the territories The Belarusian territories that were part of the Two-Nation Republic were divided between Imperial Russia, Prussia, and Austria. The Belarusian territories were acquired by the Russian Empire during the reign of Catherine II, and remained in that status until their occupation by the Russian Empire. German Empire during World War I.

The languages of Poland, 1931.

Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic

Shield of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Belarus.

During the negotiations of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Belarus first declared its independence on March 25, 1918, which led to the formation of the Belarusian People's Republic. The Germans supported the new republic, which lasted for approximately ten months. Shortly after the defeat of the Germans, the new republic fell under the influence of the Bolsheviks and the Red Army, becoming the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1919. After the Russian occupation of eastern and northern Lithuania, Belarus was merged with the aforementioned territories, forming the Lithuanian-Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic. The lands of Byelorussia were divided between Poland and the Soviet Union after the Polish-Soviet War, which ended in 1921, and the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was recreated and became a founding member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922 after the signing of the Treaty Creating the USSR. At the same time, the western sector continued to be incorporated by Poland.

A set of agricultural reforms led to Soviet collectivization in Belarus, a process that began in the 1920s. A process of rapid industrialization took place during the 1930s, following the Soviet model of five-year plans.

Map of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Belarus, 1940

Belarus in World War II

In 1939, the western Belarusian territory, a region of modern Belarus that Poland had received from the Soviets under the Treaty of Riga two decades earlier, was annexed to the Byelorussian SSR. The area was a part of the Polish territories annexed by the Soviet Union as a result of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact and the 1939 Soviet invasion of Poland. The decision was made by the Soviet, which controlled the Byelorussian People's Council, on 28 October 1939 in Białystok.

Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, making the Byelorussian SSR the first scene of Operation Barbarossa. The Brest Fortress in Belarus, in the west of the country, received one of the fiercest opening blows of the war, but for its remarkable defense it has been remembered as an act of heroism in the fight against German aggression. Statistically, Belarus was the hardest hit Soviet republic in the war, as it remained in the hands of the Nazis until 1944. During that time, the Germans managed to destroy 209 of the 290 cities on the territory, 85% of the industry of the republic and more than a million buildings.

An estimated two to three million people were killed or died in the war (about a quarter to a third of the total population), while the Jewish population of Belarus was wiped out during the Holocaust and never it recovered. The Belarusian population did not return to its pre-war level until 1971. After the war, Belarus was officially one of the 51 founding countries of the United Nations Charter in 1945. Reconstruction post-intense war began quickly. During this time, the Byelorussian SSR became a major manufacturing center in the western region of the USSR and jobs increased, leading to the arrival of ethnic Russians in the Republic. The borders of Belarus and Poland were they redrew at a point known as the Curzon Line.

Iosif Stalin implemented a policy of Sovietization that consisted of isolating the Byelorussian SSR from Western influences. This policy included sending people of various nationalities from the Soviet Union to place them in key positions in the government of the Soviet Union. Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The official use of the Belarusian language and the vast majority of cultural aspects were limited by Moscow. After Stalin's death in 1953, this program was continued by his successor Nikita Khrushchev. The Byelorussian SSR was heavily exposed to radioactive fallout from the explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in neighboring Ukrainian SSR in 1986.

In June 1988, at the rural site of Kurapaty near Minsk, archaeologist Zyanon Pazniak, leader of the Byelorussian Popular Front Party, discovered mass graves containing some 250,000 bodies of victims executed between 1937-1941 by the Soviet secret police, the NKVD, during the Great Purge. This discovery is considered by some nationalists to be proof that the Soviet government was trying to erase the Belarusian culture and people, causing Belarusian nationalists to gradually try to secede of the Soviet Union.

Independence

The nationalist flag in the diaspora, also used between 1991 and 1995 and later by the opposition to the Lukashenko government.

Two years later, in March 1990, elections were held for seats in the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR. Although the pro-independence Belarusian Popular Front won only 10% of the seats, the people were happy with the selection of delegates. Belarus declared itself sovereign on 27 July 1990 through the Declaration of Sovereignty of the SSR. Belarus from the Soviet Union. With the support of the Communist Party, the country's name was changed to the Republic of Belarus on August 25, 1991. Stanislav Shushkevich, the Chairman of the Byelorussian Supreme Soviet, met with Boris Yeltsin of the Russian SFSR and with Leonid Kravchuk of the Ukrainian SSR on December 8, 1991, at Belavézhskaya Pushcha, where they signed the Treaty of Belavezha formally declaring the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States. A constitution national law was adopted in March 1994, in which the functions of prime minister are vested in the President of Belarus.

The 1994 presidential elections had two rounds (June 24, 1994 and July 10, 1994). In them, a man unknown in the world of politics at the time, Aleksandr Lukashenko, was victorious, since he won more than 45% of the votes in the first round and 80% in the second round, defeating Viacheslav Kébich, who got 14%. Lukashenko, despite being surrounded by accusations of human rights violations, added to a serious economic crisis in 1998 and the opposition boycott of the parliamentary elections in 2000, was reelected in 2001, 2006, 2010, 2015 and in 2020.

Government and politics

Belarus is a presidential republic governed by a president and the National Assembly. According to the Constitution, the president is elected every five years. The National Assembly is a bicameral parliament made up of the 110-member House of Representatives (lower house) and the 64-member Council of the Republic (upper house). Formerly, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was one of the fifteen Republics of the Soviet Union until 1991. It had a Supreme Soviet of 421 deputies, of whom 319 were Belarusians, 69 Russians, thirteen Ukrainians, four Poles and two Jews.; of these, 292 were CPSU members and 153 were women.

The House of Representatives has the power to appoint the prime minister, make changes to the Constitution, call a vote of confidence in the prime minister, and make suggestions on domestic and foreign policy. The Council of the Republic has the power to select government officials, impeach the president, and accept or reject bills passed by the House of Representatives. Each chamber has the ability to veto any law passed by local authorities if doing so is contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus.

Victory Square in Minsk

Aleksandr Lukashenko has been the country's president since 1994. The Government includes a Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister. Members of this Council may not be members of the legislature and are appointed by the president. The judiciary comprises the Supreme Court and specialized courts such as the Constitutional Court, which deals with specific issues related to the Constitution and business law. The judges of the national courts are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Council of the Republic. For criminal cases, the highest court of appeal is the Supreme Court. The Belarusian Constitution prohibits the use of special courts for extrajudicial matters.

On May 14, 1995, a referendum empowered President Aleksandr Lukashenko to dissolve parliament and increase the degree of economic integration with Russia. A new referendum, on November 24, 1996, allowed for a new constitution that further increased presidential powers.

In 2007, 98 of the 110 members of the House of Representatives were not affiliated with any political party and of the other twelve members, eight of them belong to the Belarusian Communist Party, three to the Belarusian Agrarian Party and one to the Belarusian Agrarian Party. Liberal Democratic. Most of the non-partisans represent a wide range of social organizations such as labor, public associations and civil society organizations.

The elections held in August 2020 were considered fraudulent by the international community. The protests of the population were harshly repressed by the government and it is estimated that more than 25,000 people were arrested during the months of August and September of that same year.

Criticism of the political system

Comparison of the shield of the Soviet Union and of the emblem of current Belarus that, like several of the socialist states as the emblem of the Soviet Union, has a grain spike on the sides and a five-point star in the middle.

In numerous media outlets and for some political analysts, the authoritarian characteristics of the state make Belarus: "the last dictatorship in Europe".

Groups such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) declared the 2004 elections "not free" due to the poor results of opposition parties and the bias of the media in favor of the government. In them, neither the parties that support Lukashenko, such as the Republican Party of Labor and Justice or the extinct Plus 5 Popular Coalition, nor the opposition parties, such as the Belarusian Popular Front Party or the United Civic Party from Belarus, won no seats.

In the 2006 presidential election, Lukashenko opposed Alaksandar Milinkievič, the candidate representing a coalition of opposition parties, and Alyaksandr Kazulin of the Social Democrats. Kazulin was detained and beaten by the police during protests around the Belarusian People's Assembly. Lukashenko won the election with 80% of the vote, but the OSCE and other organizations called the election unfair.

Aleksandr Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994.

Aleksandr Lukashenko has described himself as having "an authoritarian way of ruling". Western countries have described Belarus as being ruled by a dictator; the government has accused the same Western powers of trying to overthrow Lukashenko. Belarus has been banned from membership by the Council of Europe since 1997 as undemocratic and because of electoral irregularities in the November 1996 constitutional referendum and elections to parliament. The Belarusian government is also criticized for its ongoing human rights violations and its actions against non-governmental organizations, independent journalists, national minorities and opposition politicians.

Belarus is the only country in Europe that maintains the death penalty for certain crimes in times of peace and war. The constitution was also changed by Lukashenko, who removed term limits for the presidency. In her testimony before the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice labeled Belarus among the six nations that make up the "bastions of tyranny". In response, the Belarusian government has claimed that the assessment is "very far from reality".

Human Rights

Lukashenko has described himself as an "authoritarian-style ruler". Western countries have described Lukashenko's Belarus as a dictatorship, while the Belarusian government has accused the same Western powers of trying to overthrow Lukashenko. Lukashenko. The Council of Europe has banned Belarus from membership of this body since 1997 due to voting irregularities and undemocratic elections in the November 1996 constitutional referendum and parliamentary elections.

The Belarusian government is also criticized for its human rights violations, persecution of non-governmental organizations, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians. In testimony before the Senate Relations Committee Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called Belarus one of six "bastions of tyranny" In response, the Belarusian government considered the assessment "far removed from reality". The Viasna Human Rights Center lists eleven political prisoners currently detained in Belarus. human rights Ales Bialiatski, vice president of the International Federation for Human Rights and leader of Viasna.

In 2014, Lukashenko announced the introduction of a new law that prohibits kolkhoz workers (about 9% of the total workforce) from leaving their jobs at will; change your job and your place of residence will require the permission of the governors. The law was compared to easement by Lukashenko himself. Similar regulations for the forestry industry were already introduced in 2012.

In terms of human rights, regarding membership of the seven bodies of the International Bill of Human Rights, which include the Human Rights Committee (HRC), Belarus has signed or ratified:

Status of major international human rights instruments

Belarus	International treaties
	CESCR		CCPR			CERD	CED	CEDAW		CAT		CRC			MWC	CRPD
	CESCR	CESCR-OP	CCPR	CCPR-OP1	CCPR-OP2-DP			CEDAW	CEDAW-OP	CAT	CAT-OP	CRC	CRC-OP-AC	CRC-OP-SC		CRPD	CRPD-OP
Pertenence
Signed and ratified, signed, but not ratified, neither signed nor ratified, without information, it has agreed to sign and ratify the body concerned, but also recognizes the competence to receive and process individual communications from the competent bodies.

Foreign Relations

Aleksandr Lukashenko (right) together with Vladimir Putin (Russian President) on the left, 2012.

Belarus and Russia have been trade partners and diplomatic allies since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Belarus is dependent on Russia for its import of raw materials and its export market. The Union of Russia and Belarus, a supranational confederation, was established in 1996-99. Treaties calling for monetary union, equal rights, single citizenship, and a foreign and defense policy were signed. Although the future of the Union was in doubt because of Belarus's repeated delays in monetary union, due to the lack of a referendum date for the draft constitution and a dispute over oil in 2006-07. On December 11, 2007, reports surfaced that a framework for the new state had been discussed between the two countries. On May 27, 2008, the Belarusian president said that he had appointed Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as the "prime minister" of the "Russian-Belarusian Alliance". The meaning of the measure was unclear. However, there was speculation that Putin could become President of a unified Russian-Belarusian state after resigning as Russian president in May 2008, although this has not occurred.

Belarus is a founding member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). However, recently other members of the CIS have questioned the effectiveness of the organization. Belarus has trade agreements with several European member countries of the Union, as well as with its neighbors: Lithuania, Poland and Latvia (all of which are members of the CIS). the EU).

Bilateral relations with the United States are strained because the US State Department supports the fight against various Lukashenko non-governmental organizations and because the Belarusian government has placed several obstacles to the establishment of US organizations there.

A Belarusian Su-27UBM, a modified version of that country.

Belarus has increased cooperation with the People's Republic of China, reinforced by President Lukashenko's visit to China in October 2005. Belarus has strong ties with Syria, which President Lukashenko considers a key partner in the Middle East Next. In addition to belonging to the CIS, Belarus is a member of the Eurasian Economic Community and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Belarus has been a member of non-aligned international organizations since 1998 and a member of the United Nations since its inception. foundation in 1945. Belarus participates in the Eastern Partnership of the European Union, an initiative within the EU's Neighborhood Policy, aimed at achieving the greatest possible political cooperation with Europe and promoting economic integration.

Armed Forces

Belarusian soldiers patrol in the forest of Białowieża on the border with Poland.

The Armed Forces of Belarus have three branches: the Army, the Air Force, and the staff of the joint Ministry of Defense. Major General Viktor Khrenín heads the Defense Ministry, and Aleksandr Lukashenko (President) serves as Commander-in-Chief. The Armed Forces were formed in 1992, using parts of the former Soviet Union Armed Forces in the new territory of the republic. The transformation of the former Soviet forces into the Belarusian Armed Forces, which was completed in 1997, reduced the number of its soldiers by 30,000 and restructured its leadership and military formations. Most of the serving members of the Armed Forces from Belarus are conscripts, who serve for 12 months if they have higher education or 18 months if they do not. However, the demographic decline of Belarusians of conscription age has increased the importance of recruiting active personnel, who numbered 12,000 effective in 2001. As of 2005, about 1.4% of Belarus' gross domestic product was spent on military spending. Belarus has not expressed a desire to join NATO, but has participated in the Individual Partnership Program since 1997.

Territorial organization

Belarus is divided into six oblasts (vobłasć), or regions, named after the cities that serve as administrative centers. Each oblast has a provincial legislature, called an oblsovet (Oblast Council), which is elected by the residents of each oblast, and a Provincial Executive Branch, whose head is appointed by the president. Oblasts are further subdivided into raions (commonly translated as districts). Like oblasts, each raion has its own legislative authority (raisovet) they are elected by their inhabitants, and an executive authority (raion administration) appointed by the highest executive powers. As of 2002, there are six oblasts, 118 raions, 102 cities, and 108 urban settlements. A special situation exists in Minsk, because the city acts as the national capital. The city of Minsk is run by an executive committee and has a charter of autonomy given by the national government.

1. Minsk
2. Brest Oblate Administrative Centre: Brest
3. Gómel (or Homiel) Oblate Administrative Centre: Gómel
4. Grodno Oblate Administrative Centre (or Horadnia): Grodno
5. Maguilov Oblate Administrative Centre (or Mahilou): Maguilov
6. Minsk Oblate Administrative Centre: Minsk
7. Vítebsk Oblate Administrative Centre: Vítebsk

In turn, the provinces are divided into districts.

Cities

List of top 10 cities in Belarus:

Historical developments in real GDP per capita in Belarus

Economy

Exports to		Imports
Country	Percentage	Country	Percentage
Russia Russia	35.8	Russia Russia	60.6
Ukraine Ukraine	5.7	GermanyGermany	6.7
PolandPoland	5.3	PolandPoland	3
GermanyGermany	4.4	LithuaniaLithuania	1.2
Other	48.8	Other	28.5

Tractor manufactured in Belarus.

Image showing the growth of Belarus' GDP since 1995 and the estimate for 2008.

Most of the country's economy is controlled by the state, which has been described as "Soviet-style". Thus, 51.2% of Belarusians are employed by state companies, 47, 4% are employed by private Belarusian companies (of which 5.7% are partly owned by foreigners), and 1.4% are employed by foreign companies. The country is dependent on imports such as oil from Russia. It has important agricultural products such as potatoes and animal by-products, including meat and hides. As of 1994, most of Belarus's exports were heavy machinery (especially tractors), agricultural products, and energy products. Historically, the most important branches of industry are textiles and wood processing. Starting in 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus was one of the most industrialized states in the world. in percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), as well as the richest state in the CIS. Economically, Belarus has been involved in the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Community, and the Union with Russia. During the 1990s, however, industrial production fell due to a decline in imported inputs, a drop in investment, and low demand for exports from traditional trading partners. It took until 1996 for domestic product gross to rise again. This coincided with the government placing more emphasis on using GDP for social welfare and state subsidies. GDP in 2006 was $83.1 billion in purchasing power parity (PPP) in dollars (estimate), or approximately $8,100 per capita. In the year 2005, the gross domestic product increased by 9.9%, the average inflation rate was 9.5%.

Belarus' largest trading partner is Russia, with whom it carried out almost half of its total trade in 2006. In 2006, the European Union became a trading partner of Belarus, with which it carried out almost a third of its trade abroad. Belarus has applied to become a member of the World Trade Organization in 1993.

The labor force is made up of more than four million people, but women hold more jobs than men. In 2005, almost a quarter of the population was employed by industrial factories. Employment is also high in agriculture, manufacturing sales, trade in goods, and education. The unemployment rate, according to Belarusian government statistics, was 1.5% in 2005. The number of unemployed amounted to 679,000 of whom approximately two-thirds are women. The unemployment rate has been declining since 2003, the highest ranking of the statistics since they were compiled in 1995.

Gross Domestic Product Structure in 2008: Industry: 28.1%, Others: 21.1%, Net Product Taxes: 14.4%, Trade: 10.6%, Construction: 9.4 %, Agriculture: 8.4 % and Transport and Communications: 8%.

The Belarusian unit of currency is the Belarusian ruble (BYR). The currency was introduced in May 1992, replacing the Soviet ruble. The ruble was reintroduced with the new values in 2000 and has been in use until July 1, 2016. As part of the Union of Russia and Belarus, both states have discussed creating a single currency in the same vein, as the euro. This has led to the proposal that the Belarusian ruble should be abandoned in favor of the Russian ruble (RUB), starting from January 1, 2008. As of August 2007, the National Bank of Belarus no longer pegs the Russian ruble with the Belarusian ruble. A new currency, the new Belarusian ruble (ISO 4217 code: BYN) was introduced in July 2016, replacing the Belarusian ruble at a rate of 1:10,000 (10,000 old rubles = 1 new ruble). From July 1 to December 31, 2016, the old and new coins were in parallel circulation and the 2000 series banknotes and coins became exchangeable for the 2009 series from January 1, 2017 to December 31. December 2021. This redenomination can be considered an effort to combat the high rate of inflation.

Belarus' banking system consists of 30 state-owned banks and one private bank.

Geography

Belarus is a landlocked state, relatively flat, and contains large tracts of swamp land. According to a 2005 estimate by the United Nations, 40% of Belarusian territory is covered by forests. A large amount of streams and 11,000 lakes are found in Belarus. Three major rivers flow through the country: the Neman River, the Pripyat River, and the Dnieper River. The Nieman flows west into the Baltic Sea and the Pripyat east to the Dnieper, the Dnieper flows south into the Black Sea. The highest point in Belarus is the Dzyarzhynskaya Hara peak 345 m above sea level. sea and its lowest point is on the Neman River at 90 m. The average elevation of Belarus is 160 m above sea level.

Belarus' natural resources include peat deposits, small amounts of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomite (limestone), marl, gypsum, sand, gravel, and clay. About 70% of the radiation from the Belarus disaster Chernobyl in 1986, which occurred in neighboring Ukraine, entered Belarusian territory, and in 2005 about a fifth of Belarusian land (mainly agricultural land and forests in the southeastern provinces), continued to be affected by radioactive fallout. The United Nations and other agencies have been directed to reduce the level of radiation in the most affected areas, especially through the use of cesium binders and the cultivation of rapeseed, which are intended to lower soil levels to cesium-137.

Belarus borders Latvia to the north, Lithuania to the northwest, Poland to the west, the Russian Federation to the north and east, and Ukraine to the south. Treaties signed in 1995 and 1996 have demarcated the borders with Latvia and Lithuania, but Belarus never ratified an establishing Treaty in 1997 regarding the border with Ukraine. Belarus and Lithuania ratified the final border demarcation documents in February 2007.

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  Satellite image of Belarus taken in December 2002.

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  Lake Tapily, Belarus.

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  Lake Strusta, in the province of Vítebsk.

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  Horse-riding in Minsk province.

Climate

Due to the proximity of the Baltic Sea (257 kilometers at the closest point), the country has a moderate continental climate, with cold winters and cool, humid summers, transitioning to a maritime climate. Winter lasts between 105 and 145 days, while summer can go up to 150 days. The average temperature in January is about –6 °C, while in July it is about 18 °C, with high humidity. The average annual rainfall ranges between 550 and 700 mm, depending on the area, with amounts to excessive times.

Climate in Minsk

Minsk average climate parameters (1981–2010)
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Temp. max. abs. (°C)	10.3	13.6	18.9	26.0	30.9	32.5	35.0	34.6	30.3	24.7	16.0	10.3	34.6
Average temperature (°C)	-2.1	-1.4	3.8	12.2	18.7	21.5	23.6	22.8	16.7	10.2	2.9	-1.2	10.6
Average temperature (°C)	-4.5	-4.4	0.0	7.2	13.3	16.4	18.5	17.5	12.1	6.6	0.6	-3.4	6.7
Temp. medium (°C)	-6.7	-7.0	-3.3	2.6	8.1	11.7	13.8	12.8	8.2	3.6	-1.3	-5.5	3.1
Temp. min. abs. (°C)	-39.1	-35.1	- 30.5	-18.4	-5.0	0.0	3.8	1.7	-4.7	-12.9	-20.4	- 30.6.	-39.1
Total precipitation (mm)	45	38	44	42	65	89	89	68	60	53	48	49	690
Precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)	11	9	11	13	18	19	18	15	18	18	17	13	180
Hours of sun	46.5	70.6	127.1	177.0	254.2	261.0	257.3	235.6	165.0	99.2	36.0	24.8	1754.3
Source: Pogoda " Climate (UN)

Climate in Gomel

Average Gómel climate parameters (1981–2010)
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Temp. max. abs. (°C)	9.6	15.8	21.5	29.3	32.5	34.0	37.9	38.9	32.2	27.5	18.0	11.6	38.9
Average temperature (°C)	-2.0	-1.2	4.6	13.3	20.2	23.2	25.2	24.3	18.1	11.3	3.4	-1.0	11.6
Average temperature (°C)	-4.5	-4.2	0.7	8.4	14.8	17.9	19.8	18.7	13.0	7.1	0.8	-3.3	7.4
Temp. medium (°C)	-6.9	-7.1	-2.8	4.0	9.6	12.9	14.8	13.6	8.7	3.7	-1.4	-5.6	3.6
Temp. min. abs. (°C)	-35.0	-35.1	-33.7	-13.6	-2.5	-0.2	6.0	1.2	-3.2	-12.0	-21.7	- 30.8	-35.1
Total precipitation (mm)	34	33	33	38	56	80	90	61	58	56	47	40	626
Precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)	9.4	7.3	7.7	7.8	8.0	10.3	9.4	8.0	8.0	7.5	9.3	10.1	102.8
Hours of sun	52.7	73.2	130.2	177.0	263.5	264.0	260.4	244.9	168.0	114.7	45.0	31.0	1824.6
Source No. 1: Pogoda " Climate (UN)
Source No. 2: HKO (suntime and rainy days, 1961–1990).

Ecology

Map showing cesio-137 contamination in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. In curios per m2 (1 curio are 37 gigabequerelios [GBq]).

Most Belarusian cities have high pollution rates, which are even more accentuated in industrial centers such as Saligorsk or Navapólatsk. The origin of this strong pollution is found in the years after the Second World War, since it is at this time when various heavy industries began to develop their activity in the country.

However, the most serious environmental problem facing the country is represented by the contamination derived from the explosion, in April 1986, of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (northern Ukraine), as it was located 16 km south of the Belarus border. Consequently, more than 60% of the highly radioactive fallout of cesium, strontium and plutonium emitted into the atmosphere ended up in Belarusian territory, affecting a fifth of it and more than two million of its inhabitants. In the days that followed the accident, the greatest danger was in the air, as the winds caused the radioactive cloud to pass immediately into the space of Belarus. However, over time, long-lived radioisotopes migrated from the air to the ground, posing a permanent danger to groundwater, livestock, and agricultural production. Because of the disaster, more than 160,000 Belarusians were forced to leave their homes located in the regions most affected by pollution in Gomel, Magilov and Brest. At present, the villages in the areas most affected by contamination suffer from food shortages, among other goods, at the same time that diseases caused by radiation multiply with the passing of time.

Forests in Belarus cover 40% of the country's land area. They are clean, well managed and highly protected. The Constitution stipulates that the forests belong to the State; therefore, there are no private forests in Belarus. However, some forest areas are leased to international companies. Logging is highly regulated to maintain stable forest cover and many areas are protected. The high number of forest rangers and a relatively low level of corruption allow the country to enforce its laws better than many of its neighbors, such as Russia, Ukraine or Poland.

The forest protection policy has a long history. Massive logging had begun to seriously erode the country's forests in the early 20th century. In 1945, they occupied only 25% of the territory of Belarus. However, starting in the 1950s, the environmental policy of the Soviet regime emphasized the balance between exploitation and protection of natural resources, so that by the early 1990s the country had reverted to the forest area of turn of the century.

Białowieża Forest has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. Regarded as "the last primary forest in Europe", it was used as a hunting ground by Russian aristocracy as early as the XV. During the Soviet period, after World War II, it became a protected area, a showcase for the ecological policy of the communist regime. A refuge for many mammals (particularly the European bison), it alone concentrates 70% of the flora of Belarus.

Demographics

Evolution of the country ' s population between 1989 and 2007, in thousands of inhabitants.

Population density, 2016.

Ethnic Belarusians make up 81.2% of the total population of Belarus. The remaining minority is made up of ethnic groups such as Russians (11.4%), Poles (3.9%), and Ukrainians (2.4%). The two official languages are Belarusian and Russian. Russian is the main language used by 72% of the population, while Belarusian, the other official language, is only used by the 19.2% of the population. Other minorities also speak Polish, Ukrainian, and Eastern Yiddish.

Belarus has a population density of about 50 people per square kilometer (127 per square mile); 71.7% of its total population is concentrated in urban areas. Minsk, the country's capital and largest city, is home to 1,741,400 Belarusians out of a total of 9,724,700 residents nationwide. Gomel, with 481,000 people, is the second largest city and serves as the capital from the Gomel province. Other large cities include Magilov (365,100), Vitebsk (342,400), Hrodna (314,800) and Brest (298,300).

Like many other European countries, Belarus has a negative population growth rate and a negative natural growth rate. In 2007, Belarus's population decreased by 0.41% and its fertility rate was 1.22, well below the replacement rate. Its net migration rate is 0.38 per 1,000 people, indicating that Belarus experiences immigration slightly more than emigration. As of 2007, 69.7% of the Belarusian population is aged 14 to 64; 16% are under 15, and 14.6% are 65 or older. Its population is aging: while the current median age is 37, the median age is estimated to be 51 in 2050" for Belarusians. There are about 0.88 men for every woman in Belarus. The average life expectancy is 68.7 years (63.0 years for men and 74.9 years for women). More 99% of Belarusians are literate.

Religion

Cathedral of Santa Sofia, in Pólatsk, an example of century architectureXVIII of Poland-Lithuania.

According to the November 2011 census, 58.6% of all Belarusians adhere to some form of religion. Of them, Orthodox Christianity (Exarchate of Belarus of the Russian Orthodox Church) accounts for about 82%. Roman Catholicism is mainly practiced in the western regions and there are also different denominations of Protestantism. Minorities include Greek Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, and Neopaganism. Overall in 2020, 83.3% of the religious population adhered to Orthodox Christianity, 7.8% were Catholic, 6.7% were Protestant, and 2.2% followed other religions.

The Catholic minority in Belarus is concentrated in the western part of the country, especially around Hrodna. It is made up of a mix of Belarusians and the country's Polish and Lithuanian minorities. In a statement to the media on the ties between Belarus and the Vatican, President Lukashenko stated that Orthodox and Catholic believers are the "two main denominations in our country".

Belarus was once a major center for European Jews, with 10% of the population being Jewish. But since the mid-20th century, the number of Jews has been reduced by the Holocaust, deportation and emigration, so which today is a very small minority of less than one percent. The Lipka Tatars, numbering over 15,000, are predominantly Muslim. According to article 16 of the Constitution, Belarus has no official religion. Although freedom of worship is granted in the same article, religious organizations considered harmful to the government or social order may be prohibited.

Belarus has historically supported different religions, mostly Russian Orthodox, Catholicism (especially in the western regions), different denominations of Protestantism (especially during the time of union with Protestant Sweden). Judaism and other religions are practiced by significant minorities. Many Belarusians converted to the Russian Orthodox Church after Belarus was annexed by Russia after the partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. As a consequence, the Russian Orthodox Church now has more members than other denominations.

Belarus has a Catholic minority, which makes up perhaps 10% of the country's population and is concentrated in the western part of the country, especially around Hrodna. It is made up of a mix of Belarusians and the country's Polish and Lithuanian minorities. Approximately 1% belong to the Belarusian Greek Catholic Church.

Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Minsk

Belarus was a major center for the European Jewish population, with a 10% Jewish population, but the Jewish population has been reduced by war, famine and extermination during the Holocaust, although there is a small minority still representing about 1% or less of the total population. Emigration from Belarus is one cause of the decline in the number of Jewish residents. The Lipka Tatars, numbering over 15,000 people, are Muslims. According to article 16 of the Constitution of Belarus, the country has no official religion. While freedom of worship is granted in the same article, religious organizations that are considered detrimental to the government or the social order of the country may be banned.

Languages

The official languages of the country are Belarusian and Russian. Although the importance of Belarusian has increased since independence, Russian still dominates public life, especially in the cities. Trassjanka, a mixed Belarusian-Russian oral form, is also widespread. Due to the large Polish minority in the country and also for historical reasons, Polish is still spoken to some extent, especially in the west of the country. However, due to long-lasting assimilation, many Belarusian Poles no longer speak Polish, but rather Russian or Belarusian.

In fact, Russian is the country's dominant language, with around 75% of the population now using it as their primary language and just under 12 percent using Belarusian. Russian is the language most commonly used colloquial by all ethnic groups in the country, including Belarusians. In the 2009 census, around 60% of the ethnic Belarusian population stated that they preferred to speak Russian and 26% preferred Belarusian. The proportion of native Belarusian speakers is significantly higher than the proportion of those who prefer to speak Belarusian.

The distribution of the two languages varies from region to region. In general, Belarusian is more widespread in rural areas than in cities. The region with the highest proportion of Belarusian-speaking population is Minskaya Voblasz, where about 39% of the population indicates Belarusian and 56% Russian as the main language of communication. Russian is most dominant in the capital Minsk, where less than 6% prefer Belarusian and more than 82% speak Russian.

Belarusian Writing Day in Chojniki in 2010

From 1990 onwards, Belarusian was the sole official language of the country for a few years, until a referendum in 1995 restored Russian to equal status as an official language. In this short time, the Russian had regressed to an unprecedented extent. In 1994, just under 5 percent of all schools still spoke Russian, and since 1990 the Belarusian government had set itself the goal of ousting Russian from "all spheres of Belarusian society" by the year 2000. However, the surveys showed that this language policy had little approval from the population. In the 1995 referendum, 86.8% of voters ultimately voted in favor of reintroducing Russian as an official language. It should be noted that the demographic change that is affecting Europe is also taking place with a lag in Belarus (proportion of people over 65 years: 10-20% (2017)), despite population growth.

At the 2009 census, 60% reported Belarusian as their first language, but only 26% reported speaking the language at home. In 2017, only 13% of primary school students attended Belarusian-language school, with a downward trend, and Belarusian-language books occupied only marginal space in the central library at the beginning of 2019. In 2019, it was spoken more and more of the language and its role in the foreseeable "struggle for independence" (screenwriter Andrei Kurejtschyk) with Russia.

Culture

Literature

Francysk Skaryna, one of the first people he printed in Cyrillic alphabet.

Belarusian literature began in the XI century, initially being religious writing until the XIII, the poetry of the XII century by Cyril of Turaw is representative.. It was published in Prague and Vilnius between 1517 and 1525, making it the first book printed in Belarus or anywhere in Eastern Europe. The modern era of Belarusian literature began in the XIX, an important author was Yanka Kupala. Many notable Belarusian writers of the time, such as Uladzímir Zylka, Kazimir Svayak, Yakub Kolas, Źmitrok Biadula and Maksim Haretski, wrote for a Belarusian newspaper called Nasha Niva, published in Vilnius. After Belarus joined the Soviet Union, the Soviet government took control of the Republic's cultural affairs. The free development of Belarusian literature took place in the part occupied by the Poles, until the Soviet occupation in 1939. Several poets and authors went into exile after the Nazi occupation in the Byelorussian SSR, not to return until the decade. of 1960. A great renewal of the literature of this country took place in the 1960s with the novels published by Vasil Bykaŭ and Uladzímir Karatkiévich. The Belarusian writer Svetlana Aleksiévich was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2015 and affirmed that the most influential author on her was the one who dedicated her work to awakening awareness of the catastrophes that the country has suffered: Ales Adamovich.

Music

In the 17th century, Polish composer Stanislaw Moniuszko composed operas and chamber music pieces while living in Minsk. During his stay, he worked with the Belarusian poet Vintsent Dunin-Martsinkyevich and created the opera Sielanka (Peasant Woman). At the end of the 19th century, the major cities of Belarus formed their own opera and ballet companies. The ballet Nightingale by M. Kroshner was composed during the Soviet era and became the Belarusian ballet that was first shown at the Bolshoi National Ballet Academy and Theater in Minsk. After the Great Patriotic War, the music focused on the difficulties of the Belarusian people or those who took up arms in defense of the homeland. During this period, A. Bogatyryov, creator of the opera In the Virgin Forest of Polesye, served as a "private teacher" of Belarusian composers. The National Academic Ballet Theater in Minsk was awarded the Benois Prize for Dance in 1996 as one of the world's leading ballet companies. Rock music has increased in popularity in recent years. recent years, although the Belarusian government has tried to limit the amount of foreign music broadcast on the radio in favor of traditional Belarusian music. Since 2004, Belarus has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Events

Gómel Regional Theatre.

The government of the Republic of Belarus annually sponsors cultural festivals, such as the Slavyansky Bazaar in Vitebsk, which features Belarusian artists, artists, writers, musicians, and actors. On state holidays, such as Independence Day and Victory Day, large crowds are drawn and often include landmarks such as fireworks and military parades, especially in Vitebsk and Minsk. The Ministry of Culture of the The government funds events that promote Belarusian culture and arts both inside and outside the country.

Media

The largest mass media group in Belarus is the public company National State Television and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus. It operates several television channels and radio stations and broadcasts its content nationally and internationally, either through traditional signals or over the Internet. The television broadcasting network is one of the leading independent television channels in Belarus, in its most show regional programming. Several newspapers, printed, either in Belarusian (Zvyazda stands out as it is the one with the largest circulation in that language) or Russian (Sovietskaya Belarus stands out, which is the one with the most copies sells daily with about 500), provide general information or content of special interest, such as business, politics or sports. In 1998, there were less than 100 radio stations in Belarus: 28 AM, 37 FM, and 11 shortwave stations.

All media companies are regulated by the Press and Other Media Law, approved on January 13, 1995. This supposedly guarantees press freedom, however, article 5 establishes that it is not can criticize the management of the President of Belarus or other officials indicated in the National Constitution. Article 5 states that "Freedom of opinion, convictions and their free expression are guaranteed to everyone in the Republic of Belarus&# 34;. The Government of Belarus has been criticized for acting against the media. Newspapers such as Nasha Niva and the Belaruskaya Delovaya Gazeta have been censored by the authorities after publishing reports criticizing the management of President Lukashenko or other government officials. The OSCE and Freedom House have made assessments of the violations against freedom press in Belarus. In 2005, Freedom House gave Belarus 6.75 (not free) when it came to tackling press freedom. Another issue for the Belarusian press is the unsolved disappearance of several journalists.

The Belarusian Association of Journalists has been awarded by the European Parliament and the World Association of Newspapers in recognition of the difficulties they face in carrying out their work.

World Heritage Site

Compared to other European countries of a similar size, Belarus does not have many World Heritage Sites, with only four World Heritage Sites: Mir Castle, Nesvizh Castle, Białowieża Forest (shared with Poland), and the Struve Geodetic Arc (shared with nine other countries).

Belarus on the UNESCO World Heritage List
Image	Name	Location	Comments	Year of Proclamation	Type
	Castle of Mir	Goradnia Province	Gothic-style castle.	2000	Cultural
	Castle of Nesvizh	Minsk Province	residential castle	2004	Cultural
	Białowieża Forest	Belarus and Poland	natural reserve	1979	Natural
	Struve Geodetic Arc	Northern and Eastern Europe	34 milestones or vertices for geodetic measurements.	2005	Cultural

Gastronomy

Draniki.

Belarusian cuisine consists mainly of vegetables, meat (especially pork), and breads. Foods are generally either slowly cooked or stewed. A typical Belarusian eats a very light breakfast and two large meals, with dinner being the main meal of the day. Wheat and rye breads are eaten in Belarus, but rye is more abundant because conditions are too harsh for growing wheat. To show hospitality, the host traditionally presents an offering of bread and salt to greet a guest or visitor. Popular drinks in this country include Russian wheat vodka and Kvass, a drink made from whole wheat bread or rye flour and malt. Kvass can also be combined with cut vegetables to create a cold soup called Okroshka.

Clothing

The traditional clothing of Belarus originates from the Kievan Rus' period. Due to the cold climate, the clothes, usually composed of flax or wool fibers, were designed to keep the body warm. They are decorated with decorative elements influenced by neighboring cultures: Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian, Russian, and other European nations. Each Belarusian region has developed specific design patterns. An ornamental pattern is used on some dresses to decorate the raising of the Belarusian national flag, approved in a disputed referendum in 1995.

International Rankings

Parties

Here is a detailed list with each of the holidays that are commemorated annually in the Republic of Belarus:

Sports

The Minsk Dynamo Stadium.

The Belarus National Olympic Committee has been headed by President Alexander Lukashenko since 1997, he is the only head of state in the world to hold that position.

Belarus at the Olympic Games

From the Helsinki Olympic Games until the end of the Soviet era, Belarus competed in the Olympic Games as part of the Soviet Olympic squad. During the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992, Belarus competed as part of the Unified Team. The nation's athletes competed in an Olympiad for the first time as Belarusians during the 1994 games in Lillehammer. Belarus has won a total of 53 medals: 6 gold, 18 silver and 29 bronze (counting those won at the Winter Olympics). The first Olympic medal for the USSR was won by Belarusian Mikhail Krivonosov at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.

Ice Hockey

Receiving heavy patronage from President Lukashenko, ice hockey is the nation's most popular sport. The Belarusian Team finished fourth in the competitions at the 2002 Salt Lake City, USA Winter Olympics.

Tennis

Victoria Azarenka.

Tennis in Belarus has grown rapidly and significantly over the last 15 years. Outstanding exponents of this sport are Max Mirnyi, who became No. 1 in the world in doubles, and Victoria Azarenka, winner of the 2012 Australian Open.

Football

Football is not very popular in Belarus, unlike in most countries of the former Soviet Union. However, FC BATE Borisov, the most successful club in the country for the last decade and the most league winners in the independent country, have managed to qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League on several occasions, while FK Dinamo Minsk has achieved a national title in the former First Division of the Soviet Union. Aliaksandr Hleb is the most internationally recognized player that Belarus has produced since its independence, being the only one from the country to win the Champions League. In addition to World Cup Artem Milevskiy.

• Belarus at the Olympic Games
• Soccer Selection
• Premier League of Belarus