Belarus: A Country In Turmoil And Transition

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 covers an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) and has a population of 9.1 million, with Minsk being its capital and largest city.

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. Belarus was heavily affected by World War II, losing about a quarter of its population and half of its economic resources. After the war, Belarus became a founding member of the United Nations and the Soviet Union. During the Soviet era, the country underwent Russification, with the Belarusian language and culture being relegated to second-class status.

Belarus gained independence from the Soviet Union on 25 August 1991 and has since been led by a highly centralized and authoritarian government under President Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko has maintained close ties with Russia, and the two countries signed a treaty in 1999 to create a politically integrated confederation. Belarus has faced international criticism and sanctions for its human rights violations and suppression of free speech and press freedom.

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. 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. Belarus is a medium-sized country, covering 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 square miles) and is home to a population of 9.1 million people. Minsk, the capital and largest city, is located centrally and is administered separately from the rest of the country.

The country has a hemiboreal climate and is divided into six regions administratively. Belarus has a diverse geography, with a mix of hills, flatlands, and lowlands featuring marshes and lakes. It is part of the East European Platform and has a predominantly flat terrain. Belarus is located in the water basins of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea and has numerous rivers and lakes.

The history of Belarus is closely intertwined with its neighbouring countries. Before gaining independence in 1991, Belarus was part of the Soviet Union and was known as Byelorussia or White Russia. The country has experienced rule by various states throughout its history, including the Principality of Polotsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire. During World War II, Belarus suffered devastating losses, losing about a quarter of its population and significant economic resources.

Since its independence, Belarus has retained close ties with Russia, its most dominant neighbour. In 1999, the two countries signed the Union State Foundation Treaty, aiming for political integration and a common currency. However, the precise nature of their partnership remains unclear. Belarus has a presidential republic form of government, with Alexander Lukashenko serving as the country's first and only democratically elected president since 1994.

The country has a population of 9.1 million people

Belarus has a population of 9.1 million people. The country is landlocked and located in Eastern Europe, 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 hemiboreal climate and is divided into six administrative regions. Minsk, the largest city in the country, is also the capital and is administered separately from the rest of the country.

The population of Belarus is predominantly urban, with 78.4% of the population living in urban areas. Minsk, the capital, is home to about one-fifth of the country's population. The population density is 44 people per square kilometre. The ethnic makeup of the country is predominantly Belarusian (84.9% as of the 2019 census), with Russians making up the second-largest ethnic group (7.5%). Other ethnic groups include Poles (3.1%) and Ukrainians (1.7%).

The population of Belarus has experienced fluctuations throughout its history. During World War II, the country lost about a quarter of its population. In more recent times, the population has been declining, with a negative population growth rate and a negative natural growth rate. The fertility rate is below the replacement rate, and the median age is expected to increase to between 60 and 64 by 2050. Despite these demographic challenges, Belarus has a high level of literacy, with over 99% of Belarusians aged 15 and older considered literate.

The country has a diverse geography, with a mix of flat lowlands, hills, flatlands, and lowlands with marshes and lakes. It is known for its rich natural environment and wildlife, including several National Parks. Belarus has a cool continental climate, with mild to cold winters and cool, moist summers. The country's largest river is the Dnieper, which flows through the country from north to south towards the Black Sea.

Belarus is ruled by an authoritarian government led by President Alexander Lukashenko

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, sharing borders with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. It is a unitary democratic welfare rule-of-law state with a presidential republic political structure and a socially oriented economy.

Since its independence in 1991, Belarus has been led by President Alexander Lukashenko, making him the longest-serving head of state in Europe. Lukashenko has been labelled by the media as "Europe's last dictator", ruling the country with an authoritarian government. International monitors have not regarded Belarusian elections as free and fair, except for his initial win. The government suppresses opponents and limits media freedom, which has resulted in multiple Western governments imposing sanctions on Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials.

Lukashenko was born in 1954 and served in the Soviet Border Troops and the Soviet Army before embarking on his political career. He was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1990 and assumed the position of head of the interim anti-corruption committee of the Supreme Council of Belarus following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In 1994, he won the country's inaugural presidential election after the adoption of a new constitution.

Lukashenko has maintained state ownership of key industries in Belarus, including large sections of the economy. He has also continued several Soviet-era policies, such as the use of capital punishment, which has led to Belarus being labelled as the only European country that continues to use it. Belarus has a highly centralized government, with Lukashenko holding extensive powers. He has the authority to dismiss the Supreme Council, appoint one-third of the upper house of parliament, and rule by decree.

Lukashenko has resisted economic and political reforms and has led Belarus into isolation from its European neighbours and the international community. He has also been criticized for human rights violations and his persecution of non-governmental organizations, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians.

The country has two official languages: Belarusian and Russian

Belarus has two official languages: Belarusian and Russian. While Belarusian is the country's official state language, Russian is also widely spoken and recognised as an official language. This is due to several factors, including Belarus's history as a former Soviet republic and its close political and economic ties with Russia.

The use of the Belarusian language has varied over time, influenced by historical events and shifting political ideologies. During the Soviet post-war years, for instance, a policy of Russification led to the relegation of Belarusian language and culture to a secondary status within the country. On the other hand, the Belarusian language experienced a period of revitalisation following the country's independence in 1991, with Belarusian becoming the official state language in 1990.

Today, the two languages coexist as the country's official languages. According to the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, as of 2009, 53% of the population described Belarusian as their "mother tongue", while 70% reported that Russian was the "language normally spoken at home". The choice of language can also vary depending on the region within Belarus, with Russian being more prevalent in major cities.

The languages of Belarus reflect the country's complex history and cultural diversity. While Belarusian and Russian are the official languages, minority languages such as Polish, Ukrainian, and Eastern Yiddish are also spoken within the country.

Belarus is a member of the Union State with Russia

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 9.1 million and spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi). Minsk is the capital and largest city.

The Union State of Russia and Belarus, officially also referred to as the Union State, is a supranational union consisting of Belarus and Russia. The Union State was formed with the stated aim of deepening the relationship between the two states through economic and defence policy integration. The union is based on a previous international treaty between Russia and Belarus made on 2 April 1997, which aimed to create a confederation. The Union State Treaty was signed on 8 December 1999, and ratified by the Russian State Duma and the Belarusian Parliament on 22 December 1999 and 26 January 2000, respectively.

The Union State is ruled through the Supreme State Council, of which the current president is Alexander Lukashenko, who has held the position since 2000. The present goal of the Union State focuses on economic integration, taxation, and the integration of defence and intelligence apparatus. Belarus and Russia are each other's most important trading and economic partners. The Union State has institutions such as a joint budget and property (infrastructure and knowledge) that are not yet characteristic of other integration associations. The Union State programs in various fields (e.g., space, information technology, microelectronics, agriculture, border security, Chernobyl relief) are funded from the Union State budget.

The formation of the Union State was the outcome of several years of negotiations and formal agreements between both countries, largely between Russian President Yeltsin and Belarusian President Lukashenko from 1995 to 1999. The legal basis of the Union State lies in a number of treaties that are accompanied by a multitude of more specific bilateral agreements. The first significant step in the integration process was taken in 1995 when Moscow and Minsk signed the Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighbourliness and Cooperation, which sought deeper economic integration and the formation of a single economic space, as well as the coordination of military activities between the two countries. In 1996, both countries signed the Treaty on the creation of the Community of Russia and Belarus, which sought further integration in the economic and humanitarian domains, as well as cooperation in foreign policy, security, border protection, and crime prevention. In 1997, they further increased the level of ambition when they signed the Treaty on the Union of Belarus and Russia, which stipulated the implementation of a coordinated foreign and defence policy, joint citizenship, and a common market for goods, services, capital, and labour.

The Union State, a supranational confederation between Belarus and Russia, was established in a 1996–99 series of treaties that called for monetary union, equal rights, single citizenship, and a common foreign and defence policy. However, the future of the union has been placed in doubt because of Belarus's repeated delays of monetary union, the lack of a referendum date for the draft constitution, and a dispute over the petroleum trade.

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