The Fate Of Belarus Post-Russian Empire

Belarus, formerly known as Belorussia or White Russia, was occupied by the Russian Empire from the late 18th century until the Russian Revolution of 1917. During this period, the Russian government pursued a policy of Russification, suppressing the local culture and language. In 1918, Belarus briefly gained independence as the Belarusian People's Republic, but by 1919, it was forcibly absorbed into the Soviet Union by the Bolsheviks. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in Belarusian history, as the country underwent significant social, cultural, and political changes.

Belarus declared a short-lived National Republic in 1918

Belarus, which was occupied by the Russian Empire since the end of the 18th century, declared a short-lived National Republic on March 25, 1918. This was the first time the country had enjoyed political sovereignty and unity, and it was also the first time the country was referred to as "Belarus".

The creation of the Belarusian People's Republic was enabled by the German occupation of Belarus during World War I and the subsequent Russian Revolution of 1917 and dissolution of the Russian Empire. The new republic was formed on March 25, 1918, as part of the German Mitteleuropa plan. However, by the end of 1918, the German Empire had withdrawn from the Ober-Ost territory, and the power vacuum that followed saw the territory of Belarus become a battleground for various national and foreign factions.

On December 10, 1918, Soviet troops occupied Minsk, and the Rada (Council) of the People's Republic of Belarus went into exile, first to Kaunas, then to Berlin, and finally to Prague. On January 2, 1919, the Soviet Socialist Republic of Byelorussia was declared, but it was disbanded on February 17, 1919. Part of it was included in the Russian SFSR, and the other part was joined with the Lithuanian SSR to form the LBSSR, or the Lithuanian–Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, informally known as Litbel.

While the Belarus National Republic faced off with Litbel, Polish forces advanced from the west, and Russians from the east. When Vilnius was captured by Polish forces on April 17, 1919, the capital of the Soviet puppet state Litbel was moved to Minsk. However, faced with pressure from advancing Polish forces, Lenin dissolved Litbel on July 17, 1919. Polish troops captured Minsk on August 8, 1919.

The Bolsheviks absorbed Belarus into the Soviet Union

The fall of the Russian Empire in 1917, after the October Revolution, led to a power struggle between different factions vying for control. This ended with the consolidation of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (Byelorussian SSR or BSSR), which became a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922.

The Bolsheviks' absorption of Belarus into the Soviet Union began in 1919, when they took control of the country and forced the democratic government into exile. In January of that year, the Bolsheviks declared the creation of the Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia (SSRB), which was short-lived and soon merged with the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (LSSR) to form the Socialist Soviet Republic of Lithuania and Belorussia (SSR LiB).

In July 1920, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) was created, and it became a founding member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922. The BSSR was formed after the Polish-Soviet War (1918-1921), which resulted in Belarus losing almost half of its territory to Poland. The borders of modern-day Belarus were largely shaped in 1939, when some lands of the Second Polish Republic were reintegrated following the Soviet invasion of Poland.

The Bolsheviks' absorption of Belarus into the Soviet Union was part of a broader regional shift that occurred after the fall of the Russian Empire. The Bolsheviks' rise to power in Russia, coupled with the power vacuum created by the Empire's collapse, enabled them to exert control over the region and establish the Soviet Union.

Belarus was occupied by Nazi Germany and retaken by Stalin's Russia in 1944

Belarus was occupied by Nazi Germany in 1941. During the three years of Nazi occupation, more than two million people were killed in Belarus, including 500,000 to 550,000 Jews as part of the Holocaust. The Nazis burned and destroyed 9,200 villages and settlements, and 682,000 buildings. The ethnically Slavic population of Belarus was targeted for extermination, expulsion, or enslavement as part of the German ethnic cleansing operation named Generalplan Ost.

In 1944, the Soviet Union launched a major offensive, Operation Bagration, to retake Belarus from Nazi Germany. The operation began on June 22, 1944, and by the end of August, the Soviet Union had regained control of all of Belarus. The Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic was liberated by the Red Army from fascist invaders during Operation Bagration. Minsk, the capital, was liberated on July 3, 1944, and the entire country was regained by the end of August.

The liberation of Belarus in 1944 marked the end of Nazi occupation and the restoration of Soviet control over the region. The country had suffered significant devastation and loss of life during the war, with a quarter of its pre-war population killed, including much of its intellectual elite. The major cities of Minsk and Vitebsk lost over 80% of their buildings and infrastructure. For its defence against the Germans and the resilience of its people during the occupation, Minsk was awarded the title of Hero City after the war.

Belarus declared sovereignty in 1990 and independence from the Soviet Union in 1991

Belarus has had a tumultuous history, with its lands being fought over by various empires and kingdoms. After the fall of the Russian Empire, Belarus was briefly an independent republic from 1918 to 1919, known as the Belarusian People's Republic. However, it was soon absorbed into the Soviet Union and became a constituent republic.

During World War II, Belarus suffered greatly under Nazi occupation, with its Jewish population being particularly targeted. After the war, Belarus remained under Soviet control until it once again declared its sovereignty on July 27, 1990, and formally proclaimed its independence from the Soviet Union on August 25, 1991. This move was in line with the wave of unrest in Central and Eastern European countries seeking to break free from Soviet rule.

The declaration of independence was a significant step towards Belarus' autonomy, and it was officially recognised by the United States on December 25, 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The country adopted the name "Republic of Belarus" on September 19, 1991, marking a new chapter in its history.

The process of achieving full independence was not without challenges, and Belarus faced the task of rebuilding its economy and political system. The first presidential election in the independent republic was held in 1994, with Alexander Lukashenko becoming the first President. Lukashenko has maintained an authoritarian rule, and relations with the United States have remained strained despite efforts to improve human rights and electoral practices.

Alexander Lukashenko has been the authoritarian president of Belarus since 1994

Belarus was part of the Russian Empire from the late 18th century until the Russian Revolution in 1917. After the revolution, several states arose and competed for legitimacy amid the Russian Civil War, ultimately ending with the consolidation of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, which became a founding member of the Soviet Union in 1922.

Belarus suffered greatly during World War II, with Minsk, its capital, being occupied by the Germans from 1941 to 1944. After the war, Belarus became a member of the United Nations and remained a part of the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991.

In 1994, Alexander Lukashenko was elected as the first president of the newly independent republic of Belarus. Lukashenko has been the country's president ever since, making him the longest-serving head of state in Europe. Lukashenko's rule has been characterised as authoritarian, with state repression against the political opposition becoming increasingly harsh over the years. The 2020 presidential election, in particular, sparked the largest wave of popular demonstrations in Belarus since the collapse of the Soviet Union due to allegations of vote-rigging.

First Term (1994-2001)

Alexander Lukashenko was elected as the first president of Belarus on July 20, 1994, in what were the first and last "free and fair" elections in the country. Lukashenko campaigned as an independent on a populist platform, declaring: "I am neither with the leftists nor the rightists. But with the people against those who rob and deceive them."

During his first term, Lukashenko conducted referendums to reinstate certain Soviet-era state symbols, such as the red-and-green national flag. He also extended the presidential term by two years and dissolved parliament, increasing his power. Lukashenko's early economic policies aimed to prevent the establishment of oligarchic structures and mass unemployment, which were issues in other post-Soviet states.

Second Term (2001-2006)

Lukashenko was re-elected in 2001, winning in the first round with 75.65% of the vote. However, the election process was criticised by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as failing to meet international standards. During his second term, Lukashenko continued to resist economic and political reforms and suppress dissent, leading Belarus into isolation from its European neighbours and the international community.

Third Term (2006-2010)

Lukashenko was re-elected for a third term in 2006 amid opposition reports of vote-rigging and fears of violence. While the election observers from the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) approved the election, the OSCE declared that it "failed to meet OSCE commitments for democratic elections." The heads of 25 EU countries also declared the election as "fundamentally flawed."

Fourth Term (2010-2015)

Lukashenko was one of ten candidates registered for the 2010 presidential election, which was seen as comparatively open due to a desire to improve relations with Europe and the US. However, the election was marred by violence, with two presidential candidates being seriously beaten by police and opposition protesters clashing with authorities. Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory, but the election was criticised by the OSCE and other international observers as "flawed."

Fifth Term (2015-2020)

Lukashenko was re-elected for a fifth term in 2015, and his rule continued to be marked by increasing authoritarianism. In 2019, he oversaw the advancement of joint Russian and Belarusian military relations during the Zapad 2017 military exercises.

Sixth Term (2020-present)

Lukashenko's disputed victory in the 2020 presidential election led to widespread allegations of vote-rigging and sparked the largest anti-government protests during his rule. The protests were met with violent persecution by the authorities, with thousands of demonstrators being arrested. Following the contested election, Lukashenko is not recognised by the UK, EU, or US as the legitimate president of Belarus.

In 2021, Lukashenko's campaign against the opposition took an unprecedented turn when a Belarusian fighter jet forced a commercial airliner to divert and land in Minsk, where security officials arrested opposition journalist Roman Protasevich. In 2022, Lukashenko allowed Russian forces to use Belarus as a staging ground for their invasion of Ukraine, leading to further sanctions from Western countries.

Lukashenko has promoted himself as a "'man of the people' and has maintained state control over key industries, preventing recessions as severe as those in other post-Soviet states. However, his rule has been characterised by political repression, including the disappearance and presumed killing of opposition leaders, as well as torture, sexual abuse, and other forms of repression against critics.

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