Bristles In Belarus: Fact Or Fiction?

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. Belarus has a population of around 9 million people, with Minsk being the capital and largest city. The country has a rich history, having been controlled by various states throughout the medieval period and the 20th century, including the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire, and the Soviet Union. Since gaining independence in 1991, Belarus has been led by the authoritarian government of President Alexander Lukashenko, who has maintained control over the country's economy and media, drawing criticism from human rights organisations and resulting in sanctions from the European Union, the United States, and other countries.

Belarus's authoritarian leader

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with Russia to its east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. It has a population of around 9.1 million and is officially known as the Republic of Belarus.

Since 1994, the country has been led by Alexander Lukashenko, who heads a highly centralized and authoritarian government. Lukashenko has often been referred to as ""Europe's last dictator", and Belarus has been described as "Europe's last dictatorship". The country ranks low in international measurements of freedom of the press and civil liberties.

Lukashenko was elected in Belarus's first and only free election after independence in 1994. Since then, elections have been neither free nor fair, and opposition figures have been repressed. Lukashenko has continued several Soviet-era policies, such as state ownership of large sections of the economy, and Belarus is the only European country that retains the death penalty.

In 2020, a disputed election in which Lukashenko sought a sixth term in office sparked mass protests, with tens of thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets. More than 35,000 people were arrested, and thousands were beaten in custody. Many were forced to leave the country to escape prosecution.

In 2024, Lukashenko announced his intention to run for a seventh term in the upcoming presidential election. The vote further cemented his 30-year rule, with only candidates loyal to the authoritarian leader allowed to compete.

The country's human rights record

Belarus has been criticised for its poor human rights record, with Western countries describing it as "Europe's last dictatorship". The country has been ruled by an authoritarian government since the election of Alexander Lukashenko as its first president in 1994. Lukashenko himself has described his ruling style as "authoritarian".

The country has been condemned for its persecution of non-governmental organisations, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians. During the 2020 presidential election and subsequent protests, the number of political prisoners recognised by the Viasna Human Rights Centre rose dramatically to 1,062 as of February 2022. Several people died after the use of unlawful and abusive force by law enforcement officials during the 2020 protests.

The country has also been criticised for its lack of freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Religious minorities face discrimination, and the justice system has been abused to suppress dissent. Torture and other ill-treatment are endemic, and refugees and migrants suffer abuses at the hands of the authorities.

The country has been sanctioned by the US and the EU for human rights violations, and the Council of Europe has barred Belarus from membership since 1997 due to undemocratic voting and election irregularities.

The country's independence

Belarus, officially known as the Republic of Belarus, gained independence from the Soviet Union on 25 August 1991. This came after the parliament of the republic proclaimed the sovereignty of Belarus on 27 July 1990.

However, Belarus's path to independence began much earlier, with the country's first attempt at establishing an independent state occurring in 1918. During the First World War, the territory of modern-day Belarus was occupied by the German Empire. In March 1918, the Belarusian People's Republic was declared, but this proved short-lived as the territory was soon engulfed by the Russian Civil War.

In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution in 1917, different states arose, competing for legitimacy. This ultimately led to the formation of the Byelorussian SSR, which became a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922. During the Second World War, Belarus was devastated by military operations and lost about a quarter of its population. Following the war, the Byelorussian SSR became a founding member of the United Nations and remained a part of the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991.

Since gaining independence, Belarus has retained close ties with Russia, its most dominant neighbour. In 1999, the two countries signed the Union State Foundation Treaty, aiming to create a politically integrated confederation. Belarus has also continued several Soviet-era policies, such as state ownership of large sections of the economy, and remains the only European country that continues to use capital punishment.

The country has been led by Alexander Lukashenko since 1994, when he was elected in Belarus's first and only free election after independence. Lukashenko heads a highly centralized and authoritarian government, and Belarus has often been described as Europe's last dictatorship.

The country's location

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the north and east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) with a population of 9.1 million. The country has a hemiboreal climate and is divided into six administrative regions. Minsk, the largest city, is the capital and is administered separately with special status.

Belarus's territory has been controlled by various states throughout history, including Kievan Rus', the Principality of Polotsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the Byelorussian SSR emerged and became a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922. Following World War II, during which Belarus lost about a quarter of its population and half its economic resources, the Byelorussian SSR became a founding member of the United Nations. Belarus gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Belarus is relatively flat and contains large tracts of marshy land. It is home to many streams and 11,000 lakes, and three major rivers: the Neman, the Pripyat, and the Dnieper. The country's highest point is Dzyarzhynskaya Hill at 345 metres (1,132 ft) above sea level, and its lowest point is on the Neman River at 90 metres (295 ft). Belarus has a cool continental climate with mild to cold winters and cool, moist summers.

Belarus is a wonderful place to explore, with its rich history and architecture. It boasts a diverse geography and a passion for natural history and wildlife, making it an outdoor enthusiast's dream. The country is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Belovezhskaya Pushcha forest, which is one of the largest surviving areas of primeval mixed forest in Europe.

The country's economy

Belarus is an upper-middle-income country with a mixed economy. It has a highly centralised economy, with the state retaining control of key industries and economic and political processes. The country's economy is export-oriented, with a well-developed manufacturing industry, services sector, and agricultural sector.

Belarus has the 74th-largest economy globally by GDP and is ranked 60th on the Human Development Index. The country's GDP expanded by 18.3% between 2010 and 2020, with productivity growing by 28.2% over the same period. GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity increased from $15,400 in 2010 to $20,100 in 2019. Belarus has a very low infant mortality rate of 2.9 and a literacy rate of 99%.

The country's main agricultural products include potatoes, flax, hemp, sugar beets, rye, oats, and wheat, as well as dairy and beef cattle, pigs, and chickens. Belarus has only small reserves of petroleum and natural gas and imports most of its oil and gas from Russia. The country's main industrial products include tractors, heavy trucks, oil, metal-cutting lathes, synthetic fibres, TV sets, semi-conductors, and microchips.

Belarus's main trading partners are Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and Germany. The country has trade relations with over 180 countries. In 2024, Belarusian GDP growth was fuelled by a rapid expansion in domestic demand and a surge in exports to Russia.

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