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| The present ] population of Belarus settled there between the 6th and the 8th century. The ] gradually came in contact with the ] and were organized under the ], notably in the principality of ] in modern-day northern Belarus. | The present ] population of Belarus settled there between the 6th and the 8th century. The ] gradually came in contact with the ] and were organized under the ], notably in the principality of ] in modern-day northern Belarus. | ||
| By the 13th century, the state of Rus was gravely impacted by the ] invasion and the Belarusian territories were consolidated under the ] as the ]. |
By the 13th century, the state of Rus was gravely impacted by the ] invasion and the Belarusian territories were consolidated under the ] as the ]. This duchy as well included a number of territories of Rus' and Samogitia. There was no discrimination against any of nations or religions nor any major tension between them and people of them all dominated in their own regions. | ||
| In ] the duchy became part of the ] under the collaboratively elected kings of ] that were also crowned grand dukes of Lithuania. It remained part of it until ], when it was acquired by ]. | In ] the duchy became part of the ] under the collaboratively elected kings of ] that were also crowned grand dukes of Lithuania. It remained part of it until ], when it was acquired by ]. | ||
Revision as of 19:13, 23 March 2005
Belarus (Belarusian: Белару́сь, Russian: Белару́сь (formerly: Белору́ссия)) is a landlocked nation of Eastern Europe with the capital Minsk. Belarus borders Poland on the west, Lithuania on the northwest, Latvia on the north, Russia on the east, and Ukraine on the south. The country is formally named the Republic of Belarus (Рэспу́бліка Белару́сь; Respublika Biełaruś)
| Рэспу́бліка Белару́сь Respublika Biełaruś | |
|---|---|
| Flag of Belarus Flag Coat of arms of Belarus Coat of arms | |
| Motto: none | |
| Anthem: Мы, беларусы | |
 | |
| Capitaland largest city | Minsk |
| Official languages | Belarusian, Russian |
| Government | — |
| Established | |
| • Water (%) | negligible |
| Population | |
| • 2003 estimate | 11,196,394 (75th) |
| • — census | — |
| GDP (PPP) | 2003 estimate |
| • Total | $13 billion (74th) |
| • Per capita | $1,770 (102nd) |
| Currency | Rouble (BYR) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Calling code | 375 |
| ISO 3166 code | BY |
| Internet TLD | .by |
Origin and history of the name
The spellings Belorussia and Byelorussia are transliterations of the name of the country from Russian and are no longer widely used.
Historically, in English, Belarus was sometimes referred to as "White Russia" (a literal though not entirely correct translation of its name) or "White Ruthenia." The name "Byelorussia" is considered derogatory by some, as it reminds them of Russian and Soviet imperialism and policies of russification (the full title of the Russian tsar was "Emperor of All the Russias - Great, Minor, and White").
History
Main article: History of Belarus
The present Slavic population of Belarus settled there between the 6th and the 8th century. The Early East Slavs gradually came in contact with the Varangians and were organized under the Rus', notably in the principality of Polatsk in modern-day northern Belarus.
By the 13th century, the state of Rus was gravely impacted by the Mongol invasion and the Belarusian territories were consolidated under the Lithuanians as the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This duchy as well included a number of territories of Rus' and Samogitia. There was no discrimination against any of nations or religions nor any major tension between them and people of them all dominated in their own regions.
In 1569 the duchy became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth under the collaboratively elected kings of Poland that were also crowned grand dukes of Lithuania. It remained part of it until 1795, when it was acquired by Imperial Russia.
After the Russian Revolution of 1917, at the end of the German occupation during World War I, on March 25, 1918 Belarusians declared their independence for the first time, but Belarus National Republic (Беларуская Народная Рэспубліка) was short-lived and didn't manage to remain independent. In modern Belarus, Lukashenko's official historians ignore BNR and the date of the independence proclamation, but democratic opposition and simple Belarusians celebrate March 25 every year both publicly and in private.
In 1919 Byelorussian SSR was declared, which in 1922 became one of the founding members of the Soviet Union.
In the Second World War, Belarus was occupied by Nazi Germany between 1941 and 1944. Another notable harsh period in Belarusian history was the Chernobyl accident of 1986.
Belarus declared independence from the Soviet Union on July 27 1990.
On December 8, 1991, the leaders of Russia (Boris Yeltsin), Ukraine (Leonid Kravchuk), and Belarus (Stanislav Shushkevich) republics met in Belarus, in Belavezhskaya Pushcha, to issue a declaration that the Soviet Union was dissolved and replaced by the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Belarus
Belarus is a republic governed by a President and a bicameral Parliament (National Assembly or Natsyyanal'ny Skhod). The judiciary is headed by a Supreme Court and a Constitutional Court.
Western media, politicians and political scientists usually consider Belarus as Europe's last dictatorship due to the authoritarian rule of president Lukashenko. Notably, Belarus is one of only two countries in Europe barred from full membership in the Council of Europe (the other being Kazakhstan), and the only one to be named on the United States' "outposts of tyranny" list.
During the rule of the current administration in Belarus there have been several cases of persecution, disappearance and mysterious deaths of prominent opposition leaders and independent journalists. Pavel Sheremet, a journalist criticizing the Lukashenko regime, was continuously persecuted for miscellaneous reasons. Dmitri Zavadsky, an opposition journalist, has disappeared. Anatoli Majsenia, chief of anti-presidential Center for Strategic Initiatives, died in automobile crash that looked like a staged accident. Mikhail Marinich, leader of the opposition, is also currently in jail.
See also:
Administrative division
Main article: Subdivisions of Belarus
At the higher administrative level, Belarus is divided into 6 voblasts and one municipality (horad, i.e., "city"); the latter also being the national capital city.
(Administrative centers are given in parentheses.)
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Voblasts are further subdivided into rayons (usually translated as districts).
Geography
Main article: Geography of Belarus
Although landlocked, it has 11,000 lakes. Three major rivers run through it: the Neman River, the Pripyat River, and the Dnepr River. Belarus is relatively flat and marsh-rich. The largest marsh territory is Polesie. Belarus' highest point is Dzyarzhynskaya Hara (Dzyarzhynsk Hill), 345 m, and its lowest point on the Neman river, 90 m.
The natural resources of Belarus are forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay.
See also:
Economy
Main article: Economy of Belarus
President Lukashenko launched the country on the path of "market socialism" in 1995. In keeping with this policy, Lukashenko re-imposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprise. In addition to the burdens imposed by high inflation, businesses have been subject to pressure on the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, and retroactive application of new business regulations prohibiting practices that had been legal.
Further economic problems are two consecutive bad harvests, 1998-1999, and persistent trade deficits. Close relations with Russia, possibly leading to a political union, color the pattern of economic developments. For the time being, Belarus remains self-isolated from the West and its open-market economies.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Belarus
Belarus is primarily inhabited by Belarusians, and some Russians, Poles, Ukrainians and others.
Most demographic indicators resemble other European countries, notably with both the population growth rate and the natural growth rate in the negative.
Religion
According to various estimates, 60-70% of Belarusians consider themselves Russian Orthodox, about 15-20% are Roman Catholics, and 5-10% are Protestants or of other faith. There are a considerable number of atheists.
Historically the Belarusians have practiced a variety of religions including the aforementioned Russian Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Protestantism.
For example, by the end of the 18th century 70% of Belarusians were Greek Catholics, 15% - Catholics, 7% - Judaists, and only 6% - Russian Orthodox. In 1839 though Russian empire eliminated Greek Catholic (Uniate) church on Belarusian lands and forcefully turned all of their believers into Russian Orthodox faith.
Since president Lukashenko in 1994 has come to power, the Russian Orthodox Church in Belarus has been favoured by the government. This has been particularly evident in tax breaks that have allowed the Church to become a large-scale exporter of tax-free vodka and cigarettes. A new religion law was passed in 2003 against the will of Catholics, Protestants as well as other believers. They complain that it discriminates against them, giving preference to the Orthodox Church in many areas.
(See also Kalvaryja cemetery, an old Catholic cemetery in Minsk).
Culture
Main article: Culture of Belarus
See also:
- Belarusian language
- Music of Belarus
- Belarusians, list of Belarusians
- Belarusian media
- Public holidays in Belarus
Symbols from earlier history
The white-red-white flag of Belarus The Chase/Pahonya CoA of Belarus
The images show the white-red-white flag (бел-чырвона-белы сцяг) and The Chase (Паго́ня, Pahonya) coat of arms. These historical symbols were adopted as the symbols of the Belarus National Republic and as the official national symbols of the Republic of Belarus from the time it got its independence in July 1991 and until the Referendum of 1995. The coat of arms is similar to that of Lithuania (Vytis).
Miscellaneous topics
- Communications in Belarus
- Transportation in Belarus
- Belavia (national airlines)
- Military of Belarus
- Belarus (tractor)
External links
- President's official site
- http://www.belarus-misc.org/
- http://www.belarusguide.com/
- http://www.belarusinside.org/
- http://www.about-belarus.info/
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