Browsed by
Tag: Belarus

According to localcollegeexplorer, Belarus is a landlocked country located in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. It has a population of approximately 9.5 million people and its official language is Belarusian. The history of Belarus dates back to the 11th century when it was first mentioned as part of the Kievan Rus’ state. During this period, the region was largely populated by Slavic tribes who had migrated from other parts of Europe to settle in the area. The region was then ruled by various regional powers until the 14th century when it became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1569, Belarus became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and experienced a period of economic growth and development as well as religious tolerance. In 1795, following the Third Partition of Poland, Belarus was annexed by Russia and became known as “White Russia” or “Belorussia”. During this period it saw significant industrialization under Tsar Alexander I but also experienced frequent uprisings against Russian rule including an uprising led by Tadeusz Kosciuszko in 1794 which was ultimately unsuccessful in gaining independence for Belarus. Following World War I and the collapse of Tsarist Russia in 1917, Belarus declared its independence under German occupation and formed a short-lived democratic republic known as “The Belarussian People’s Republic” (BPR). However this republic only lasted until 1919 when it was occupied by Soviet forces during the Russian Civil War and subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union as one of its republics. During World War II Belarus suffered heavily at hands Nazi Germany with an estimated 2 million civilians killed during occupation including mass executions such as those at Minsk ghetto or concentration camps such as Auschwitz-Birkenau located nearby in Poland. Following war Belarus remained part Soviet Union until its dissolution 1991 when it declared its independence once again becoming Republic of Belarus with new president Alexander Lukashenko taking office 1994. Since then country has seen significant economic growth due to increased foreign investment which has helped modernize its infrastructure while also maintaining strong ties with both Russia and European Union making it important player geopolitics today. In 2010, Belarus was a small country located in the Eastern Europe region of the world. It was bordered by Russia to the east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the north. The total area of Belarus was approximately 207,600 square kilometers. The population of Belarus in 2010 was estimated to be 9.5 million people. The capital city was Minsk, which had a population of 1.9 million people and accounted for about 20 percent of the total population in 2010. The main language spoken in Belarus was Russian, however many other languages were also spoken including Polish and Ukrainian. The currency used in Belarus at that time was called the Belarussian Ruble (BYR). In terms of economy, it had largely been dependent on Russia since gaining independence from Soviet Union in 1991. However since 2010 there has been a shift towards more diversification with foreign investments and foreign trade increasing significantly during this period as well as increased focus on developing industry within Belarus itself such as manufacturing and tourism. In terms of culture, Belarusians have always been proud of their rich cultural heritage which includes art, literature and music as well as traditional folk dances such as Polka and Krakowiak that are still popular today. Religion is an important part of life for many people with most practicing Eastern Orthodox Christianity but there is also significant representation from other religions such as Catholicism, Judaism and Islam within the country’s population. Check estatelearning for Belarus in 1999.

About Belarus

About Belarus

The territory of Belarus was completely inhabited by people as early as 9-6 millennium BC. Over the years of its existence, the territory of the modern state has repeatedly passed into the possession of other countries. However, during all this time it has not lost its originality, and its cultural treasury has managed to replenish with many interesting objects. A special attraction, this area is given by virgin forests, which are home to many wild animals. Geography of Belarus According…

Read More Read More

Belarus Politics and Education

Belarus Politics and Education

Politics According to the constitution adopted on March 15, 1994 (revised several times), Belarus is a presidential republic. The head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the president, who is directly elected for a period of 5 years (one-time re-election possible). If none of the candidates receives an absolute majority in the first ballot, a runoff vote between the two most successful applicants is required in the second. A minimum participation of 50% is planned for both…

Read More Read More

Belarus Guide

Belarus Guide

Belarus – country information Country name Belarus Official name Republic of Belarus Capital Minsk Continent Europe Area 207,600 km2 Population 9,468,100 (2014) Foundation of a state 8/25/1991 The highest mountains Dzerzhinsk 346 m Longest rivers Dnieper 2,280 km (in the country 575 km) State system a presidential-type pluralistic republic with a unicameral parliament The biggest cities Minsk (capital) 1,675,000, Gomel 50,000, Mogilev 370,000 Official language Belarusian Ethnicity/National Composition Belarusians 78.5%, Russians 8.5%, Poles 7.5%, others 5.5% Religious affiliation mostly Orthodox,…

Read More Read More