Polish In Belarus: Common Language Or Not?

Belarus and Poland have a shared history, with both countries having been part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Russian Empire. They also share a border of around 418km, which is an external border of the European Union. According to the 1999 Belarus census, 3.9% of the population of Belarus is Polish, and the Polish language is spoken in some parts of the country. The Polish minority in Belarus numbers 288,000 according to the 2019 census, although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland estimates the number to be as high as 1,100,000.

Polish is the second most common language in Belarus

The history of the Polish language in Belarus is a complex one. The lands of modern Belarus have been controlled by various states throughout history, including the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Russian Empire. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the sovereign Republic of Belarus, the situation of the Polish minority has improved. Poles in Belarus began re-establishing Polish language schools and their legal right to participate in religious life.

However, the attitude of the new authorities towards the Polish minority has not always been consistent. Local levels of the Belarusian government are largely unwilling to accept the aspirations of their own ethnic Poles, making them targets for state-sanctioned intolerance, according to a 2005 report by The Economist.

Despite these challenges, the Polish language and culture have a significant presence in modern Belarus. The capital city of Minsk was once home to Polish community organizations and a Polish-speaking national theatre. Additionally, a Polish Autonomous District, Dzierżyńszczyzna, was proclaimed on Soviet territory.

Today, the majority of Poles in Belarus live in the Western regions, with significant populations in the Grodno oblast, Sapotskin, and Voranava District. The largest Polish organization in the country is the Union of Poles in Belarus, which has over 20,000 members.

While Polish is the second most common language in Belarus, it is worth noting that Russian is the dominant language in the country, especially in major cities like Minsk. This is due to historical factors and the influence of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.

Belarus and Poland share a border ~418km long

Belarus and Poland share a border that is approximately 418km long. This border is also the European Union's external border and splits the Białowieża Forest, a primeval forest, between the two countries' national parks.

The border between the two countries has not always existed in its current form. In the medieval period and up until the 20th century, different states controlled the lands of modern-day Belarus at various times. These included Kievan Rus', the Principality of Polotsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire.

The border's modern shape was largely determined in 1939 when some lands of the Second Polish Republic were reintegrated into Belarus after the Soviet invasion of Poland. The border was finalised after World War II.

In recent years, the border has been the site of a crisis, with Poland accusing Belarus of engaging in hybrid warfare by facilitating the illegal crossing of migrants. In response, Poland has deployed troops and constructed a border barrier.

Poles make up 3.1% of Belarus' population

Poles make up 3.1% of the population of Belarus, according to the 2019 census. This amounts to 288,000 people, though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland estimates the number to be as high as 1,100,000. The Polish minority in Belarus is the second-largest ethnic minority in the country, after Russians.

The history of Poland and Belarus is closely intertwined. Both countries share a border and have been part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Russian Empire. They also joined the United Nations together in 1945 as original members.

The Polish language is spoken in Belarus by Belarusian minorities, and it is one of the two official languages in the country, alongside Russian. However, Russian is predominantly used by the Belarusian government, and there is some discrimination against the Belarusian language within the country.

The situation of the Polish minority in Belarus has improved since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the sovereign Republic of Belarus. Polish language schools have been re-established, and the Polish minority has regained the legal right to participate in religious life. However, the local levels of the Belarusian government are largely unwilling to accept the aspirations of their Polish minority, making them targets for state-sanctioned intolerance, according to a 2005 report by The Economist.

Diplomatic relations between Poland and Belarus have been strained in recent years, mainly due to their differing stances on Russia. Poland is a member of NATO and the European Union and has an anti-Russian stance, while Belarus has long been firmly pro-Russia.

The Polish language is spoken in parts of Belarus

Poles in Belarus have a unique linguistic situation. A slight majority use Belarusian, while a majority of ethnic Belarusians use Russian. This situation arose because the Poles in Belarus live mostly in the Belarusian-speaking parts of the country, whereas Russian now dominates in Minsk and most of eastern Belarus. Very few Belarusian Poles use Polish in everyday life.

The history of the Polish ethnic and cultural presence in modern Belarus is an intricate part of its history. The lands of modern Belarus are the birthplace of important Polish historical figures, such as the writer Mickiewicz or scientist Domejko, among others. The proto-Belarusian language, called Ruthenian or Old Belarusian, was protected by law in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and used as the local vernacular, while both Polish and Latin languages were the lingua franca of the throne.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the sovereign Republic of Belarus, the situation of the Polish minority has been steadily improving. Poles in Belarus began re-establishing Polish language schools and their legal right to participate in religious life. However, the attitude of the new authorities toward the Polish minority is not very consistent, and local levels of the Belarusian government are largely unwilling to accept the aspirations of their own ethnic Poles, making them into new targets for state-sanctioned intolerance, according to a 2005 report by The Economist.

The Polish minority in Belarus is officially recognised by the government

The Polish ethnic and cultural presence in modern Belarus is an intricate part of its history. The lands of modern Belarus are the birthplace of important Polish historical figures, such as the writer Mickiewicz and scientist Domejko. The proto-Belarusian language, called Ruthenian or Old Belarusian, was protected by law in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and used as the local vernacular, while both Polish and Latin were the lingua franca of the throne.

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the sovereign Republic of Belarus, the situation of the Polish minority has been steadily improving. Poles in Belarus began re-establishing Polish language schools and their legal right to participate in religious life. However, the attitude of the new authorities towards the Polish minority is not very consistent, and local levels of the Belarusian government are largely unwilling to accept the aspirations of their own ethnic Poles, making them targets for state-sanctioned intolerance, according to a 2005 report by The Economist.

In recent years, diplomatic relations between Belarus and Poland have been strained. Poland has strongly condemned Belarus's violent political crackdown on anti-government protests and does not recognise Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus. In response, Lukashenko has claimed that Belarus has closed its EU borders and deployed additional troops. Poland has also accused Belarus of engaging in hybrid warfare by pushing migrants towards the European Union border.

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