The main trading partners are Russia, which accounts for about 45% of Belarusian exports and 55% of imports, and the EU countries, which account for 25% of exports and 20% of imports. Each region of Belarus has developed specific design patterns. [136] The National Assembly is a bicameral parliament comprising the 110-member House of Representatives (the lower house) and the 64-member Council of the Republic (the upper house). We unlock the potential of millions of people worldwide. [14][15][16][78] The Soviet-controlled Byelorussian People's Council officially took control of the territories, whose populations consisted of a mixture of Poles, Ukrainians, Belarusians and Jews, on 28 October 1939 in Biaystok. The US has given hundreds of millions of dollars to Zimbabwe, a country with one of the most anti-American voting records in the UN. He garnered 45% of the vote in the first round and 80%[89] in the second, defeating Vyacheslav Kebich who received 14% of the vote. The Statutes allowed the right to own land only to noble families of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He spent the World War I years in Soviet Belarus, becoming one of the country's most distinguished artists and a member of the modernist avant-garde and was a founder of the Vitebsk Arts College. Belarus rarely receives much media attention in the West, but it has long been subjected to political interference from its neighbors, the USA, and the European Union. The republic was created in 1920 following the staged rebellion of soldiers of the 1st LithuanianBelarusian Division of the Polish Army under Lucjan eligowski. In 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union invaded and occupied Poland, marking the beginning of World War II. ., 2006.. 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. Several state holidays, such as Independence Day and Victory Day, draw big crowds and often include displays such as fireworks and military parades, especially in Vitebsk and Minsk. We were very nervous . [139], In the 2012 parliamentary election, 105 of the 110 members elected to the House of Representatives were not affiliated with any political party. The Belarusian leader pointed out that NATO was quickly building up forces on the border with Belarus in Poland and in the Baltic countries Read more Moscow-Kiev talks to begin at 12:00 Moscow . A national constitution was adopted in March 1994 in which the functions of prime minister were given to the President of Belarus. 2 min read. [138] The Council of the Republic has the power to select various government officials, conduct an impeachment trial of the president, and accept or reject the bills passed by the House of Representatives. [205], Belarus's two official languages are Russian and Belarusian;[254] Russian is the most common language spoken at home, used by 70% of the population, while Belarusian, the official first language, is spoken at home by 23%. The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) was created in July 1920. List of Every Communist Country in the World as of 2021: China. During this period, Anatoly Bogatyrev, creator of the opera In Polesye Virgin Forest, served as the "tutor" of Belarusian composers. [177], Most of Belarus's service members are conscripts, who serve for 12 months if they have higher education or 18 months if they do not. Another hypothesis connects the word with the Gothic Kingdom that occupied parts of the territory of modern Belarus and Ukraine in the 4th and 5th centuries. [218] Smokescreen: India's fragile batting from Delhi, Nagpur gapingly exposed in Indore Batting of Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar covered the fragile nature of India's top-order batting in the first two Tests of the India-Australia series. "About the Origins of the Names of White and Black Ruthenia"), (Joseph Juho), 1956. 1919 - The Russian Red Army conquers Belarus, and establishes communist rule. [217] The growth rate is much lower than for the economy as a wholeabout 2.2% in 2021. Although Belarus is now an independent nation, it is also an isolated dictatorship that has in some ways remained unchanged since the 1990s, and is largely seen both culturally and. [203] On 2 December 2021, the United States, European Union, United Kingdom and Canada imposed new sanctions on Belarus. [246], According to the census of November 2011, 58.9% of all Belarusians adhered to some kind of religion; out of those, Eastern Orthodoxy made up about 82%: Eastern Orthodox in Belarus are mainly part of the Belarusian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, though a small Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church also exists. For the past few years, the Hungarian government under authoritarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbn has overtly courted the American right, wooing the kinds of anti-democratic forces buoying former. The 2000s saw a number of economic disputes between Belarus and its primary economic partner, Russia. The former Soviet republic was occupied by the Nazis between 1941 and 1944, when it lost 2.2 million. ( ).-, 1940. Please try to keep recent events in historical perspective and add more content related to non-recent events. The national hockey team finished fourth at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics following a memorable upset win over Sweden in the quarterfinals and regularly competes in the World Championships, often making the quarterfinals. [60], In a Russification drive in the 1840s, Nicholas I prohibited use of the Belarusian language in public schools, campaigned against Belarusian publications and tried to pressure those who had converted to Catholicism under the Poles to reconvert to the Orthodox faith. Receiving heavy sponsorship from the government, ice hockey is the nation's second most popular sport after football. The ballet Nightingale by M. Kroshner was composed during the Soviet era and became the first Belarusian ballet showcased at the National Academic Vialiki Ballet Theatre in Minsk. Until it became independent in 1991, Belarus, formerly known as Belorussia or White Russia, was the smallest of the three Slavic republics included in the Soviet Union (the larger two being Russia and Ukraine). [197] In July 2021, Belarusian authorities launched a hybrid warfare by human trafficking of migrants to the European Union. [219] The country relies on Russia for various imports, including petroleum. [154] Many of the candidates, including Sannikov, were sentenced to prison or house arrest for terms which are mainly and typically over four years. [200] Following the granting of humanitarian visas to an Olympic athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya and her husband, Poland also accused Belarus for organizing a hybrid warfare as the number of migrants crossing the BelarusPoland border sharply increased multiple times when compared to the 2020 statistics. Communism is a form of government most frequently associated with the ideas of Karl Marx, a German philosopher who outlined his ideas for a utopian society in The Communist Manifesto, written in 1848.Marx believed that capitalism, with its emphasis on profit and private ownership, led to inequality among citizens.Thus, his goal was to encourage a system that promoted a classless society in . It also blasted Belarus for being subservient to China. Prezydent Biaorusi chce zakaza kochonikom odchodzi z pracy", "In chase of upgrade: serfdom for woodworkers? [242] These articles were aimed to defend the rights of the Lithuanian nobility within the duchy against Polish and other nobles of the PolishLithuanian Commonwealth. The biggest of these was the Soviet Union (The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) which was made up of countries such as Russia, Belarus, Latvia, Ukraine, Georgia and a number of other countries. In 1996, Lukashenko called for a controversial vote to extend the presidential term from five to seven years, and as a result the election that was supposed to occur in 1999 was pushed back to 2001. On January 31, 1992, the U.S. Embassy . Belarus, a country of about 9.5 million people which gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, has a troubled record on human rights that has complicated its relationships with the U.S. and the EU for almost all its independence. [132] Belarus and Lithuania ratified final border demarcation documents in February 2007.[133]. The choice of name was probably based on the fact that core members of the newly formed government were educated in tsarist universities, with corresponding emphasis on the ideology of West-Russianism. Numerous Belarusian players are present in the Kontinental Hockey League in Eurasia, particularly for Belarusian club HC Dinamo Minsk, and several have also played in the National Hockey League in North America. [172] In addition to the CIS, Belarus is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (previously the Eurasian Economic Community), the Collective Security Treaty Organisation,[164] the international Non-Aligned Movement since 1998,[173] and the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). 1921 - The Treaty of Riga divides Belarus between Poland and Soviet Russia. [255] Minorities also speak Polish, Ukrainian and Eastern Yiddish. Stalin's purges 1930s - Belarus. [180], Belarus has not expressed a desire to join NATO but has participated in the Individual Partnership Program since 1997,[181] and Belarus provided refueling and airspace support for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. The unemployment rate, according to government statistics, was 1.5% in 2005. [48] During this time, the duchy was involved in several military campaigns, including fighting on the side of Poland against the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410; the joint victory allowed the duchy to control the northwestern borderlands of Eastern Europe. MOFA mentioned that Belarus and any other country's acceptance of China's "absurd remarks" that belittle Taiwan's . [162] Belarus has trade agreements with several European Union member states (despite other member states' travel ban on Lukashenko and top officials),[163] including neighboring Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. [122] The average elevation of Belarus is 160m (525ft) above sea level. [179] In 2005, about 1.4% of Belarus's gross domestic product was devoted to military expenditure. During his stay, he worked with Belarusian poet Vintsent Dunin-Martsinkyevich and created the opera Sialanka (Peasant Woman). Belarus is also known for its strong rhythmic gymnasts. [139], The government includes a Council of Ministers, headed by the prime minister and five deputy prime ministers. [209] In either case, the councils have the power to approve or reject a nonimee for executive committee chair. [87][88], In March 1990, elections for seats in the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR took place. [175] However, Belarus suspended its participation in the Eastern Partnership program on 28 June 2021, after the EU imposed more sanctions against the country. (ed. [263] The free development of literature occurred only in Polish-held territory until Soviet occupation in 1939. The Belarusian government sponsors annual cultural festivals such as the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk,[257] which showcases Belarusian performers, artists, writers, musicians, and actors. The games will feature 57 medal events in ten sports. . [234], On 23 May 2011, the ruble depreciated 56% against the United States dollar. [55] The Belarusian territories acquired by the Russian Empire under the reign of CatherineII[56] were included into the Belarusian Governorate (Russian: -) in 1796 and held until their occupation by the German Empire during World War I. ", "No Job? While the freedom of worship is granted in the same article, religious organizations deemed harmful to the government or social order can be prohibited. [158], The Byelorussian SSR was one of the two Soviet republics that joined the United Nations along with the Ukrainian SSR as one of the original 51 members in 1945. [122] About 40% of Belarus is covered by forests. info)). While Russia is no longer communist, its president, Vladimir Putin, considers the fall of the Soviet Union the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century" and is currently (as of. [46] Trying to avoid the Tatar Yoke, the Principality of Minsk sought protection from Lithuanian princes further north and in 1242, the Principality of Minsk became a part of the expanding Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. To strengthen their independence within the format of the union, three editions of the Statutes of Lithuania were issued in the second half of the 16th century. [272], Belarusian cuisine consists mainly of vegetables, meat (particularly pork), and bread. Belarus was part of the Soviet Union and became an independent country in 1991, after the USSR collapsed. [216], In 2019 the share of manufacturing in GDP was 31%, over two-thirds of this amount falls on manufacturing industries. [230] Belarus applied to become a member of the World Trade Organization in 1993. [193] At least three detainees suffered injuries indicative of sexual violence in Okrestino prison in Minsk or on the way there. The present borders of Belarus were established during the turmoil of the World War Two. [274] Tennis player Victoria Azarenka became the first Belarusian to win a Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open in 2012. MOFA condemned the Chinese Communist Party's "continuous spread of false statements" and its practice of forcing other countries to agree with its claims. and install a government of loyalists to intensify Communist Party control over the economy and society. Published 1994, amended in 1996", "SectionV: Local government and self-government", "STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME", " ", " - ", " 434 20.10.1995. Around the 5th century, the area was taken over by the Slavs. [231], The labor force consists of more than four million people, among whom women hold slightly more jobs than men. [190], The judicial system in Belarus lacks independence and is subject to political interference. Vigorous postwar reconstruction promptly followed the end of the war and the Byelorussian SSR became a major center of manufacturing in the western USSR, creating jobs and attracting ethnic Russians. Anyone from outside the duchy gaining rights to a property would actually own it only after swearing allegiance to the Grand Duke of Lithuania (a title dually held by the King of Poland). He was named by Svetlana Alexievich, the Belarusian winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature 2015, as "her main teacher, who helped her to find a path of her own". Washington, Mar 4 (PTI): Communist China is the strongest and the most disciplined enemy that the United States has ever faced, Republican presidential aspirant Nikki Haley said on Friday as she slammed the ruling Democratic Party as a 'socialist' part. In addition, remains from the DnieperDonets culture were found in Belarus and parts of Ukraine. The welcoming ceremony also included the anthems of the two countries and the honor guard march. Dallas, TX: SIL International. Belarus Imposes Fines for Being Unemployed News", "The EU's Relationship With Belarus Trade", "Banknotes and Coins of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus", "Belarus abandons pegging its currency to Russian ruble", With economy in tatters, Belarus appeals to IMF for rescue loan of up to $8billion. Under Lukashenko, Belarus has been considered an autocracy where power is ultimately concentrated in the hands of the president, elections are not free and judicial independence is weak. An influential author who devoted his work to awakening the awareness of the catastrophes the country has suffered, was Ales Adamovich. /TASS/. Wheat and rye bread are consumed in Belarus, but rye is more plentiful because conditions are too harsh for growing wheat. [118][119] These include not only corporate offices and individual officers of government but also private individuals who work in the state-owned enterprise industrial sector. At the talks in Beijing Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko congratulated Xi Jinping on the great trust demonstrated by the Chinese people at the National Congress of the Chinese Communist . Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. It was time yesterday. [142], Lukashenko has been frequently described as the "last dictator" in Europe in media. [42] Invaders from Asia, among whom were the Huns and Avars, swept through c. 400600 AD, but were unable to dislodge the Slavic presence.[43]. [148][149] Re-admission of the country into the council is dependent on the completion of benchmarks set by the council, including the improvement of human rights, rule of law, and democracy. Now the country's pro-democracy leaders are. [199] In August 2021, Belarusian officials, wearing uniforms, riot shields and helmets, were recorded on camera near the BelarusLithuania border pushing and urging the migrants to cross the European Union border. [245], Like many other Eastern European countries, Belarus has a negative population growth rate and a negative natural growth rate. [207] It is run by an executive committee and has been granted a charter of self-rule.[208]. [269][270], The traditional Belarusian dress originates from the Kievan Rus' period. While the world has just five truly communist countries, socialist countries (countries whose constitutions include statements about the protection and rule of the working class) are relatively common Examples include Portugal, Sri Lanka, India, Guinea-Bissau, and Tanzania. [76] Belarusian leadership was sent to Bereza Kartuska prison.[77]. Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with the capital Minsk. [243] Minsk, the nation's capital and largest city, was home to 1,937,900 residents in 2015[update]. [123][124] The country lies within two ecoregions: Sarmatic mixed forests and Central European mixed forests. [170] Belarus also has strong ties with Syria,[171] considered a key partner in the Middle East. [165], Bilateral relations with the United States are strained; the United States had not had an ambassador in Minsk since 2007 and Belarus never had an ambassador in Washington since 2008. [160][161] Belarus was a founding member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The number of people employed in the industry is 34.7% of the working population. Other large cities are Mogilev (365,100), Vitebsk (342,400), Grodno (314,800) and Brest (298,300). [246] Over 99% of Belarusians aged 15 and older are literate. [81] The Jewish population of Belarus was devastated during the Holocaust and never recovered. It was the last Soviet republic where the communist economic system worked and it was also the most militarized. Due to the cool climate, clothes were designed to conserve body heat and were usually made from flax or wool. It was published in Prague and Vilnius sometime between 1517 and 1525, making it the first book printed in Belarus or anywhere in Eastern Europe. During Soviet times, present day Belarus had a communist political system that was constitutionally defined as a Marxist-Leninist single party socialist republic guided in part by the political ideas of Karl Marx, one of the fathers of historical materialism, as well as by Friedrich Engels and Vladimir Lenin. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration.