The Absence Of Belarus' Flag: A Symbolic Omission

The national flag of Belarus is a rectangular cloth consisting of two horizontal stripes: a red upper stripe and a green lower stripe. A vertical red-on-white Belarusian ornamental pattern is placed against the flagstaff. The current design was introduced in 2012 and is adapted from a design approved in a May 1995 referendum. However, the use of the Belarusian flag has been banned in some countries, including the Czech Republic, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine. This is due to its association with pro-Russian sentiment and the country's involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The current flag of Belarus is adapted from a Soviet-era design

The current flag of Belarus is a modified version of the 1951 flag used when the country was a republic of the Soviet Union. The 1951 flag, designed by Mikhail Gusyev, featured two unequal horizontal stripes of red and light green, with the golden hammer, sickle, and star of communism appearing on the red stripe. It also included a distinctive vertical stripe at the hoist, which was red with a white embroidery pattern typical of designs found on peasant blouses and shirts.

The current flag, introduced in 2012, retains the same structure but removes the communist symbols of the hammer, sickle, and red star. It also reverses the colours in the ornament pattern, so it is now red on a white background. The red stripe is said to represent freedom and the sacrifice of the nation's forefathers, while the green stripe represents life. The decorative pattern, designed in 1917 by Matrona Markevich, is derived from local plants and flowers and is commonly used in traditional woven garments.

The 1951 flag was created by the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (Byelorussian SSR) and was the first flag design in the Soviet Union to include national ornamentation. The current flag was introduced by the State Committee for Standardisation of the Republic of Belarus and is adapted from a design approved in a May 1995 referendum. It does not differ significantly from the 1951 flag, but the changes remove the explicit communist symbolism.

The white-red-white flag was used after independence in 1991 until 1995

The white-red-white flag was used by the Belarusian Democratic Republic in 1918 before the country became a Soviet Republic. It was then used by the Belarusian national movement in West Belarus, followed by its widespread unofficial use during the Nazi occupation of Belarus between 1942 and 1944.

After Belarus regained its independence in 1991, the old white-red-white flag was readopted. However, this flag was only used until 1995. The white-red-white flag was favoured by those who supported the maintenance of socialism and its autocratic ways. On June 7, 1995, the old Soviet flag design was revived, although the hammer, sickle, and star emblems were omitted, and the embroidery pattern was changed to red on a white background instead of the reverse.

The design of the flag used between 19 September 1991 and 5 June 1995 is believed to have been devised by the Belarusian Democratic Republic between March and December 1918. The original designer of the flag is thought to have been Klawdziy Duzh-Dushewski, and the design is known in Belarusian as the byel-chyrvona-byely s'tsyah (Бел-чырвона-белы сьцяг; literally "white-red-white flag").

The colours red and white have traditionally been used in the coat of arms of Lithuania, the state heraldry of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, all of which included lands that are now part of Belarus. There are several theories explaining the flag's origin, including an allusion to the name of the country, White Ruthenia.

In 1918, the Belarusian People's Republic (BNR) was proclaimed, and its symbols became the coat of arms ("Pahonia") and the white-red-white flag. On August 11, the newspaper Svobodnaya Belarus published the first official description of the flag and coat of arms. From 1919 to 1920, the white-red-white flag was used by Belarusian military formations as part of the Polish and Lithuanian armies.

The current flag was introduced in 2012, removing communist symbols

The current national flag of Belarus was introduced in 2012 by the State Committee for Standardisation of the Republic of Belarus. It is a modification of the 1951 flag used when the country was a republic of the Soviet Union. The 2012 flag removed the communist symbols of the hammer and sickle and the red star, and reversed the colours in the ornament pattern from white-on-red to red-on-white.

The 2012 flag is a rectangular cloth consisting of two horizontal stripes: a red upper stripe, inspired by the flag of the Soviet Union, and a green lower stripe. The red stripe covers two-thirds of the flag's height, and the green stripe covers the remaining third. There is also a vertical red-on-white traditional Belarusian decorative pattern, occupying one-ninth of the flag's length, placed against the flagstaff. The width-to-length ratio of the flag is 1:2.

The current flag does not differ significantly from the flag of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (Byelorussian SSR), except for the removal of the communist symbols and the reversal of the red and white in the hoist pattern. The red ornament design on the national flag was, until 2012, 1/12 the width of the flag, and 1/9 with the white margin. As of 2012, the red pattern has occupied the entire white margin.

The colours of the national flag are regulated in the "STB 911-2008: National Flag of the Republic of Belarus", published by the State Committee for Standardisation of the Republic of Belarus in 2008. This document provides the technical specifications of the national flag, including the details of the colours and the ornament pattern.

The red-green bicolour is said to represent power, courage, honour, energy, hope, health, youth, and more

The Belarusian national flag is a powerful symbol of the country's identity and its people's aspirations. The current design, featuring a red-and-green bicolour, was introduced in 1995, replacing the previous flag of white, red, and black. This new colour scheme has a depth of meaning and is said to capture the spirit and essence of Belarus and its people. The flag is an important symbol of national unity and has a strong emotional connection with the Belarusian population, representing their hopes and aspirations for the future.

The red and green colours are said to be symbolic of a range of virtues and values. Red, a bold and powerful colour, is often associated with energy, passion, and life. It is a colour of action and has strong emotional connotations, from love to anger, and so it is a fitting symbol of the vitality and energy of the Belarusian people. Red also represents courage and honour, reflecting the proud spirit of the nation and its history. It is a colour often used to signify power, and so it is an apt choice to represent the strength and unity of the Belarusian state and its people.

Green is a colour with a range of positive associations, from nature and the environment to health and youth. It is a colour of hope and a symbol of spring, new life, and growth, reflecting the optimism and aspirations of the Belarusian people for their country. Green also represents honour and respect, and it is a colour often associated with safety and peace, which are values that the Belarusian people hold dear. This colour is also symbolic of the country's rich natural resources and its agricultural heritage, reflecting the importance of the land and nature to the Belarusian identity.

The combination of these two colours is unique among national flags, giving Belarus a distinct and instantly recognisable symbol. The red-green bicolour is a powerful and evocative design, capturing the spirit and identity of the nation. It is a symbol that has been embraced by the Belarusian people, and it flies proudly as a representation of their country and all it stands for. This simple yet effective design has become an iconic image, recognised globally as a symbol of Belarus and its people.

The Belarusian flag is banned at some sporting events due to the country's involvement in the Ukrainian invasion

The national flag of Belarus is a rectangular cloth consisting of two horizontal stripes: a red upper stripe and a green lower stripe. A vertical red-on-white Belarusian ornamental pattern is placed against the flagstaff. The current design was introduced in 2012 and is adapted from a design approved in a 1995 referendum.

The decision to ban the Belarusian flag at sporting events is part of a broader effort to condemn and sanction Belarus for its support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Many countries have imposed sanctions on Belarus, and there have been calls for Belarus and Russia to be banned from sporting events altogether.

The ban on the Belarusian flag at sporting events has been a controversial topic. While some support the decision as a way to stand against Belarus's involvement in the Ukrainian invasion, others may see it as unfair to Belarusian athletes who are unable to represent their country under their flag. It is important to note that Belarusian athletes are still allowed to participate in international events and Grand Slams but without their flag or country name.

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