[121] It is landlocked, relatively flat, and contains large tracts of marshy land. This policy was reversed in the 1930s, and the majority of prominent Belarusian intellectuals and nationalist advocates were either exiled or killed in Stalinist purges. [224], In the 1990s, however, industrial production plunged due to decreases in imports, investment, and demand for Belarusian products from its trading partners. [120], Belarus lies between latitudes 51 and 57 N, and longitudes 23 and 33 E. Its extension from north to south is 560km (350mi), from west to east is 650km (400mi). [261] The modern era of Belarusian literature began in the late 19th century; one prominent writer was Yanka Kupala. Our assessments, publications and research spread knowledge, spark enquiry and aid understanding around the world. [228], Due to its failure to protect labor rights, including passing laws forbidding unemployment or working outside of state-controlled sectors,[229] Belarus lost its EU Generalized System of Preferences status on 21 June 2007, which raised tariff rates to their prior most favored nation levels. Other notable Belarusian sportspeople include cyclist Vasil Kiryienka, who won the 2015 Road World Time Trial Championship, and middle-distance runner Maryna Arzamasava, who won the gold medal in the 800m at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics. The Belarusian Constitution forbids the use of special extrajudicial courts. [122] Three major rivers run through the country: the Neman, the Pripyat, and the Dnieper. Bieder, H. (2000): Konfession, Ethnie und Sprache in Weiruland im 20. From 1 July until 31 December 2016, the old and new currencies were in parallel circulation and series 2000 notes and coins can be exchanged for series 2009 from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021. The Belarusian leader pointed out that NATO was quickly building up forces on the border with Belarus in Poland and in the Baltic countries Read more Moscow-Kiev talks to begin at 12:00 Moscow . [158], The Byelorussian SSR was one of the two Soviet republics that joined the United Nations along with the Ukrainian SSR as one of the original 51 members in 1945. Covering an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) and with a population of 9.2 million, Belarus is the 13th-largest and the 20th-most populous country in Europe. Now the country's pro-democracy leaders are. There is no better example of communism's. [41] The region was first permanently settled by Baltic tribes in the 3rd century. During his stay, he worked with Belarusian poet Vintsent Dunin-Martsinkyevich and created the opera Sialanka (Peasant Woman). [81] The Jewish population of Belarus was devastated during the Holocaust and never recovered. [232] The ruble was reintroduced with new values in 2000 and has been in use ever since. Among the parties supportive of Lukashenko are the Communist Party of Belarus (KPB), a successor of the monolithic ruling Communist Party of the Soviet era; the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus; and the Agrarian Party. 2 min read. [137], The House of Representatives has the power to appoint the prime minister, make constitutional amendments, call for a vote of confidence on the prime minister, and make suggestions on foreign and domestic policy. Belarus overthrow campaign aims to destroy last traces of Soviet The country's folk music traditions can be traced back to the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Belarus Protests Eclipse Rally in Defense of Defiant Leader [148][149] Re-admission of the country into the council is dependent on the completion of benchmarks set by the council, including the improvement of human rights, rule of law, and democracy. [219], The currency of Belarus is the Belarusian ruble. Two years later the so-called Milk War, a trade dispute, started when Russia wanted Belarus to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and through a series of events ended up banning the import of dairy products from Belarus. [180], Belarus has not expressed a desire to join NATO but has participated in the Individual Partnership Program since 1997,[181] and Belarus provided refueling and airspace support for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. As of March 2022, countries or regions subject to U.S. sanctions (either unilaterally or in part) include Afghanistan, the Balkans, Belarus, Burma, Central African Republic, Cuba, Democratic. Washington, Mar 4 (PTI): Communist China is the strongest and the most disciplined enemy that the United States has ever faced, Republican presidential aspirant Nikki Haley said on Friday as she slammed the ruling Democratic Party as a 'socialist' part. (ed. Why Belarus is called Europe's last dictatorship | The Economist Communism is a form of government most frequently associated with the ideas of Karl Marx, a German philosopher who outlined his ideas for a utopian society in The Communist Manifesto, written in 1848.Marx believed that capitalism, with its emphasis on profit and private ownership, led to inequality among citizens.Thus, his goal was to encourage a system that promoted a classless society in . The judiciary comprises the Supreme Court and specialized courts such as the Constitutional Court, which deals with specific issues related to constitutional and business law. Settlements without their own local council and executive committee are called territorial units (Belarusian: ; Russian: ). The runner-up opposition leader Andrei Sannikov received less than 3% of the vote; independent observers criticized the election as fraudulent. Belarus has a population density of about 50 people per square kilometre (127 per sqmi); 70% of its total population is concentrated in urban areas. In 1863, economic and cultural pressure exploded in a revolt, led by Konstanty Kalinowski (also known as Kastus). [264], Music in Belarus largely comprises a rich tradition of folk and religious music. As of 2015[update], 69.9% of Belarus's population is aged 14 to 64; 15.5% is under 14, and 14.6% is 65 or older. [130][131], Belarus borders five countries: Latvia to the north, Lithuania to the northwest, Poland to the west, Russia to the north and the east, and Ukraine to the south. The Statutes were initially issued in the Ruthenian language alone and later also in Polish. [251] President Lukashenko has stated that Orthodox and Catholic believers are the "two main confessions in our country". [277], This article is about the Republic of Belarus. ", "Belarus Economic Crisis Deepens as Currency Plunges", "Security Council Press Statement on Minsk Bombing | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases", "Belarus's Protests Aren't Particularly Anti-Putin", "Protests in Belarus continue despite challenger's departure", "Belarus asks Lithuania to extradite opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya", "Lithuania to Belarus: 'Rather watch hell freeze over' than deliver Tsikhanouskaya", "Headquarters of Tsikhanouskaya, Coordination Council and National Anti-Crisis Management", "Belarus protests: Why Poland is backing the opposition", "Belarus opposition leader: Foreign mediation may be needed", "El Pais interview with HR/VP Borrell: "Lukashenko is like Maduro. Ella Reeve Bloor was one of the founders of the Communist Labor Party of America, a predecessor of the Communist Party of the USA, and a tireless labour organiser during the Great Depression. [139], In the 2012 parliamentary election, 105 of the 110 members elected to the House of Representatives were not affiliated with any political party. Lukashenko was officially re-elected in 2001, in 2006, in 2010, in 2015 and again in 2020, although none of those elections were considered free or fair nor democratic.[91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100]. Opposition parties are permitted, but they have had little electoral success. Belarus is dependent on Russia for imports of raw materials and for its export market. The contested lands were divided between Poland and the Soviet Union after the war ended in 1921, and the Byelorussian SSR became a founding member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922. The takeover was partially due to the lack of military coordination of the Balts, but their gradual assimilation into Slavic culture was peaceful in nature. [45] There are no sources of military seizure, but the annals affirm the alliance and united foreign policy of Polotsk and Lithuania for decades. [143], Belarus has often been described as "Europe's last dictatorship" by some media outlets, politicians and authors due to its authoritarian government. Is Belarus in the EU? [203] On 2 December 2021, the United States, European Union, United Kingdom and Canada imposed new sanctions on Belarus. Covid-19: How does Belarus have one of the lowest death rates - The BMJ Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko believes that his country will develop more intensively under a strong China, the BelTA news agency reported. Belarus, country of eastern Europe. Current Communist Countries: China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam. [218] At first, a policy of "Belarusianization" was followed in the newly formed Byelorussian SSR. Communist Countries, Past and Present - InfoPlease ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Belarus&oldid=1141790380. Belarus - Government and society | Britannica Typically, Belarusians eat a light breakfast and two hearty meals later in the day. [168] The Fossilized Soviet Architecture of Belarus, in Photos The national football team has never qualified for a major tournament; however, BATE Borisov has played in the Champions League. [84] In 1986, the Byelorussian SSR was contaminated with most (70%) of the nuclear fallout from the explosion at the Chernobyl power plant located 16km beyond the border in the neighboring Ukrainian SSR. Taiwan lambasts China, Belarus joint statement delegitimizing nation's [citation needed] The borders of the Byelorussian SSR and Poland were redrawn, in accord with the 1919-proposed Curzon Line. According to some estimates, in countries such as present-day Ukraine, GDP is supposed to be only about 90 percent of what it had been before the transition. Flutter's 'Exceptional' Year for US Gambling: The - Bloomberg Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe.It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. "People in these countries are virtually isolated from the rest of the world by authoritarian rulers who muzzle the media and keep a chokehold on information through restrictive laws, fear, and intimidation," said CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper. [246] Over 99% of Belarusians aged 15 and older are literate. . . . Main Geographic Characteristics of the Republic of Belarus", "Belarus: Window of Opportunity (see Table 15, page 66)", "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm", "The United Nations and Chernobyl The Republic of Belarus", "Ecological reservation in Belarus fosters new approaches to soil remediation", "Country Report: Belarus Borders: Borders and policy in Belarus", "SectionIV:The President, Parliament, Government, the Courts", "Deputy Prime Ministers of the Republic of Belarus", "Interview with Belarus President Lukashenko", "Analysis | Can people power topple Europe's 'last dictator'? [191] Corrupt practices such as bribery often took place during tender processes, and whistleblower protection and national ombudsman are lacking in Belarus's anti-corruption system. Vietnam. [116][117] Further sanctions were imposed in 2022 following the country's role in the invasion of Ukraine. The Head of State is the President of the Republic of Belarus. Please try to keep recent events in historical perspective and add more content related to non-recent events. The bloc is a political and economic union, consisting of 27 member states. During that time, 209 out of 290 towns and cities were destroyed, 85% of the republic's industry, and more than one million buildings. [139], The government includes a Council of Ministers, headed by the prime minister and five deputy prime ministers. This led to a proposal that the Belarusian ruble be discontinued in favor of the Russian ruble (RUB), starting as early as 1 January 2008. . [205], Belarus's two official languages are Russian and Belarusian;[254] Russian is the most common language spoken at home, used by 70% of the population, while Belarusian, the official first language, is spoken at home by 23%. The main trading partners are Russia, which accounts for about 45% of Belarusian exports and 55% of imports, and the EU countries, which account for 25% of exports and 20% of imports. [139] The armed forces were formed in 1992 using parts of the former Soviet Armed Forces on the new republic's territory. 96.19. [242] Minority groups include: Russians (7.5%), Poles (3.1%), and Ukrainians (1.7%). The country, which is home to the capital city Minsk, is around 40% forest. Dallas, TX: SIL International. Angela Davis, 79, was . 4 Catholicism in Central and Eastern Europe, meanwhile, has not experienced the same upsurge as Orthodox Christianity. [175] However, Belarus suspended its participation in the Eastern Partnership program on 28 June 2021, after the EU imposed more sanctions against the country. The national awakening in today's Belarus is especially striking because it is taking place in a country that had previously clung to the traditions, symbols, and narratives of the USSR with more enthusiasm than any other former Soviet republic. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. The 2000s saw a number of economic disputes between Belarus and its primary economic partner, Russia. China Warns 'Hedonistic' Bankers to Toe the Communist Party Line The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) ruled that the elections were unfair because opposition candidates were arbitrarily denied registration and the election process was designed to favor the ruling party. [128] The country is in the transitional zone between continental climates and maritime climates. [179] In 2005, about 1.4% of Belarus's gross domestic product was devoted to military expenditure. [260], By the 16th century, Polotsk resident Francysk Skaryna translated the Bible into Belarusian. [238] This redenomination can be considered an effort to fight the high inflation rate. [198] Lithuanian authorities and top European officials Ursula von der Leyen, Josep Borrell condemned the usage of migrants as a weapon and suggested that Belarus could be subject to further sanctions. The choice of name was probably based on the fact that core members of the newly formed government were educated in tsarist universities, with corresponding emphasis on the ideology of West-Russianism. At the basic level are 118 raions councils and 10 cities of oblast subordination councils, which are supervised by the governments of the oblasts. The self-naming of Goths was Gutans and Gytos, which are close to Gudija. Belarus has so far won five medals (two silvers and three bronzes) at the 2nd edition of the Children of Asia Games. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Each chamber has the ability to veto any law passed by local officials if it is contrary to the constitution. 1919 - The Russian Red Army conquers Belarus, and establishes communist rule. Russia agrees to sell Belarus gas at 60% below the price charged to other European countries, . [261], The last major revival of Belarusian literature occurred in the 1960s with novels published by Vasil Byka and Uladzimir Karatkievich. Connecting Fox News' Tucker Carlson, Hungary and Trump Communist China strongest and most disciplined enemy US ever faced [225] GDP only began to rise in 1996;[226] the country was the fastest-recovering former Soviet republic in the terms of its economy. Amnesty International,[101] and Human Rights Watch[102] have criticized Lukashenko's violations of human rights. Under the 1994 constitution, the president could serve for only two terms as president, but a change in the constitution in 2004 eliminated term limits. [266] Rock music has become increasingly popular in recent years, though the Belarusian government has attempted to limit the amount of foreign music aired on the radio in favor of traditional Belarusian music. [253] The Lipka Tatars, numbering over 15,000, are predominantly Muslims. Centered on the historical capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vilna (Lithuanian: Vilnius, Polish: Wilno), for 18 months the entity served as a buffer state between Poland, upon which it depended, and Lithuania, which claimed the area. 1919 - The Russian Red Army conquers Belarus, and establishes communist rule. It is bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. It was published in Prague and Vilnius sometime between 1517 and 1525, making it the first book printed in Belarus or anywhere in Eastern Europe. [207] It is run by an executive committee and has been granted a charter of self-rule.[208]. Belarus Negotiations with Chinese President Xi Jinping The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) was created in July 1920. [50], On 2 February 1386, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland were joined in a personal union through a marriage of their rulers. It is time to fight back against communism. The Byelorussian SSR was the hardest-hit Soviet republic in World War II; it remained in Nazi hands until 1944. [57], Under Nicholas I and Alexander III the national cultures were repressed. There were 679,000 unemployed Belarusians, two-thirds of whom were women. The Belarusian government sponsors annual cultural festivals such as the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk,[257] which showcases Belarusian performers, artists, writers, musicians, and actors. Prezydent Biaorusi chce zakaza kochonikom odchodzi z pracy", "In chase of upgrade: serfdom for woodworkers? 5 Views From Belarus On The Country's Political Crisis. A well-known journalist in Belarus and a long-time correspondent for Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper, 49-year-old Poczobut was also an activist for the Union of Poles in Belarus (ZPB), a Polish minority organisation that has been delegalised by the Belarusian authorities. "Red was the colour . [136] The National Assembly is a bicameral parliament comprising the 110-member House of Representatives (the lower house) and the 64-member Council of the Republic (the upper house). We give money to Belarus, which is Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's closest ally. Several poets and authors went into exile after the Nazi occupation of Belarus and would not return until the 1960s. [48] During this time, the duchy was involved in several military campaigns, including fighting on the side of Poland against the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410; the joint victory allowed the duchy to control the northwestern borderlands of Eastern Europe. Putin and Xi by the Numbers - CEPA He spent the World War I years in Soviet Belarus, becoming one of the country's most distinguished artists and a member of the modernist avant-garde and was a founder of the Vitebsk Arts College. However, it was short-lived as the communist rule and later the Nazi occupation of Belarus would suppress the freethinking writers of Belarus and force many into leave the country. Another hypothesis connects the word with the Gothic Kingdom that occupied parts of the territory of modern Belarus and Ukraine in the 4th and 5th centuries. The present borders of Belarus were established during the turmoil of the World War Two. The incumbent regime, steered for the past twenty years by de facto dictator Alexander Lukashenko, is arguably more centralized than the one in Moscow. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Kremlin said that Russia stood ready "to provide the necessary assistance to resolve the problems that have arisen" and referred to a collective security treaty. The state telecom monopoly, Beltelecom, holds the exclusive interconnection with Internet providers outside of Belarus. Other aspects of life were explored by the Belarusian poets and novelists post the 1960s. Belarus - Encyclopedia Britannica | Britannica Other large cities are Mogilev (365,100), Vitebsk (342,400), Grodno (314,800) and Brest (298,300). 5 Views From Belarus On The Country's Political Crisis - NPR.org