Exploring Belarus: A Country Within Europe's Heartland

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 9.1 million people and spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi). The country has a complex history and rich culture, with diverse geography and a unique natural environment. Belarus has had a tumultuous past, with different states controlling its lands over the centuries, and it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, it has been led by the authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has maintained close ties with Russia.

Belarus is landlocked and located in Eastern Europe

Belarus is a landlocked country located in Eastern Europe. It is officially known as the Republic of Belarus and is part of the East European Platform. Belarus is bordered by Russia to the north and east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. The country's total land area is 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi), and it has a population of roughly 9.1 million people. Minsk, the capital and largest city, is located in the centre of the country and is home to about one-fifth of the population.

Belarus has a predominantly flat terrain intersected by hills, flatlands, and lowlands with marshes and lakes. The country is located in the water basins of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, and its landscape was largely shaped by glaciation during the Pleistocene Epoch. Belarus has over 20,000 streams and 11,000 lakes, with the Dnieper River being the longest river in the country. The country has a hemiboreal climate and is divided into six administrative regions.

Throughout history, the territory of modern-day Belarus has been controlled by various states, including Kievan Rus', the Principality of Polotsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Russian Empire. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, different states arose, competing for legitimacy, ultimately leading to the formation of the Byelorussian SSR, a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union. Belarus gained independence from the Soviet Union on 25 August 1991 and has since been led by an authoritarian government under President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus is a member of several international organisations, including the United Nations, the CIS, the CSTO, the EAEU, the OSCE, and the Non-Aligned Movement. While it has shown no aspirations to join the European Union, it maintains bilateral relations with the bloc. Belarus has close ties with Russia, and the two countries signed a treaty in 2000 for greater cooperation, forming the Union State.

It is bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia

Belarus is bordered by Russia to the north and east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. The country's total border length is 3,617km.

Russia is Belarus's closest economic and political partner, and the two countries have a highly integrated relationship. In 1999, they signed the Union State Foundation Treaty, which aimed to create a politically integrated confederation with a common currency. However, the precise nature of the partnership remains unclear. Belarus is heavily dependent on Russia for its energy supplies, and the two countries have also cooperated in military matters.

Poland and Lithuania, two of Belarus's neighbouring countries, do not recognise Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus. Lithuania has provided refuge to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the main opposition candidate, and other members of the Belarusian opposition.

Latvia, another neighbouring country, is 470km from Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

Ukraine, to the south, has historically had a complex relationship with Belarus. In the aftermath of World War II, Belarus lost about a quarter of its population and half of its economic resources. During the war, Belarus was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1944, and much of its large Jewish population was killed. In 1944, the Soviet Red Army drove the Germans out of Belarus.

Belarus's border with Lithuania was finalised in February 2007, and the country ratified a treaty with Ukraine in 2009, demarcating their common border.

Minsk is the capital and largest city

Minsk has a population of about two million, making it the 11th most populous city in Europe. It is one of the administrative capitals of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Minsk is the only city in Belarus with an underground metro system, which was launched in 1984.

Minsk is a major industrial centre, contributing more than a quarter to the national GDP. The city's industrial sector includes machinery and equipment, food and beverages, tobacco products, electrical equipment, vehicles, construction materials, and pharmaceuticals. Minsk is home to well-known Belarusian brands, including Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ), Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ), Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT), and Minsk Motor Plant (MMZ).

The city has a large railway network connecting Brest, Moscow, Vilnius, and Gomel, as well as a national airport. Minsk also boasts a very good public transportation system, with buses, trolleybuses, trams, and a metro system.

Minsk is a large educational centre within Belarus, with the main educational institutions of the country concentrated in the city. These include the Academy of Management of the President of the Republic of Belarus, Belarus State University, Belarus State Medical University, and Belarusian State Economic University, among others.

The capital also has an extensive network of cultural establishments, including museums, theatres, and sports centres. Notable landmarks and attractions in Minsk include the National Library of Belarus, the Victory Monument in Victory Square, the Town Hall in Svobody Square, and the Hero-City Stele in Pobeditelei Avenue.

Minsk is located on the southeastern slope of the Minsk Hills, with diverse terrain featuring hilly areas and elevation differences of about 100 metres within the city limits. The city is known for its sports traditions and Olympic achievements, having produced several Olympic champions in various sports.

Belarus has a population of 9.1 million

Belarus has a negative population growth rate and a negative natural growth rate. In 2007, the population declined by 0.41%, and the fertility rate was 1.22, well below the replacement rate. However, Belarus has a positive net migration rate of 0.38 per 1,000, indicating slightly more immigration than emigration. As of 2015, 69.9% of the population was between the ages of 14 and 64, with 15.5% under 14 and 14.6% over 65. The median age is expected to increase to between 60 and 64 by 2050. There are about 0.87 males per female in Belarus, and the average life expectancy is 72.15 years (66.53 for men and 78.1 for women).

Belarus has a diverse geography and is home to a variety of rare plant and animal species. It is located in the water basins of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea and has over 20,000 streams and 10,000 lakes. The country is predominantly flat, with hills, flatlands, and lowlands intersected by marshes and lakes. The highest point is Dzyarzhynskaya Hill at 345 metres, and the lowest point is in the Neman River valley at 80-90 metres above sea level. Belarus has a cool continental climate with mild to cold winters and cool, moist summers.

The country has a semi-presidential, authoritarian government

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 semi-presidential, authoritarian government.

The country has a bicameral parliament, the National Assembly, which is made up of the House of Representatives (the lower house) and the Council of the Republic (the upper house). The President of Belarus is the head of state and is at the top of the government, which includes a ceremonial prime minister appointed by the President. The President has the power to enact decrees that are executed in the same way as laws.

Since 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has been the President of Belarus. Lukashenko has been referred to as "Europe's last dictator", and his government has been described as authoritarian and anti-democratic. Elections in Belarus are not considered free and fair, and the media is not free. Opponents of the regime are repressed, and there have been several cases of the persecution and disappearance of prominent opposition leaders and independent journalists. The Belarusian government has been criticized by Human Rights Watch for human rights violations and its actions against NGOs, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians.

Lukashenko has continued several Soviet-era policies, such as state ownership of large sections of the economy. Belarus is the only European country that continues to use capital punishment. The country has poor rankings in international measurements of freedom of the press and civil liberties.

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