Peter Ogwumike Height, Articles I

It also blasted Belarus for being subservient to China. [214], Belarus is a developing country. During this period, Anatoly Bogatyrev, creator of the opera In Polesye Virgin Forest, served as the "tutor" of Belarusian composers. Belarus is a presidential republic. [184], Belarus's Democracy Index rating is the lowest in Europe, the country is labelled as "not free" by Freedom House,[185] as "repressed" in the Index of Economic Freedom, and in the Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, Belarus is ranked 153th out of 180 countries for 2022. Two years later the so-called Milk War, a trade dispute, started when Russia wanted Belarus to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and through a series of events ended up banning the import of dairy products from Belarus. There is no better example of communism's. Pay Up. [222] In 1994, Belarus's main exports included heavy machinery (especially tractors), agricultural products, and energy products. Centered on the historical capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vilna (Lithuanian: Vilnius, Polish: Wilno), for 18 months the entity served as a buffer state between Poland, upon which it depended, and Lithuania, which claimed the area. [266] The National Academic Theatre of Ballet in Minsk was awarded the Benois de la Dance Prize in 1996 as the top ballet company in the world. [207] It is run by an executive committee and has been granted a charter of self-rule.[208]. [121] It is landlocked, relatively flat, and contains large tracts of marshy land. [103] Around the same time the 2011 Minsk Metro bombing occurred in which 15 people were killed and 204 were injured. [120], Belarus lies between latitudes 51 and 57 N, and longitudes 23 and 33 E. Its extension from north to south is 560km (350mi), from west to east is 650km (400mi). Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with the capital Minsk. Geopolitically, Belarus. [73][74] In 1935, after the death of Pisudski, a new wave of repressions was released upon the minorities, with many Orthodox churches and Belarusian schools being closed. When opposition protesters took to the streets in Minsk, many people, including some presidential candidates, were beaten and arrested by the riot police. [191] Corrupt practices such as bribery often took place during tender processes, and whistleblower protection and national ombudsman are lacking in Belarus's anti-corruption system. [17][82][83] The population of Belarus did not regain its pre-war level until 1971. [137], The House of Representatives has the power to appoint the prime minister, make constitutional amendments, call for a vote of confidence on the prime minister, and make suggestions on foreign and domestic policy. [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). 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 . [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]. Open. Users of this site are cautioned that new general licenses may be enacted, revoked or amended at any time; accordingly, the list and attachments made . 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. Other notable Belarusian sportspeople include cyclist Vasil Kiryienka, who won the 2015 Road World Time Trial Championship, and middle-distance runner Maryna Arzamasava, who won the gold medal in the 800m at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics. [195], On 23 May 2021, Belarusian authorities forcibly diverted a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius in order to detain opposition activist and journalist Roman Protasevich along with his girlfriend; in response, the European Union imposed stricter sanctions on Belarus. [142], Lukashenko has been frequently described as the "last dictator" in Europe in media. [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. 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 . MINSK, March 1. Lukashenko was officially re-elected in 2001, in 2006, in 2010, in 2015 and again in 2020, although none of those elections were considered free or fair nor democratic.[91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100]. The Communist Party of Belarus won 3 seats, and the Agrarian Party and Republican Party of Labour and Justice, one each. ", "The Russo-Polish Historical Confrontation", "Belarusian": UCLA Language Materials Project, , "Europe's Last Dictatorship Is Opposed by the Oldest Exiled Government in the World", "War, Population Displacement and State Formation in the Russian Borderlands 19141924", "Stosunki polsko-biaoruskie pod okupacj sowieck (19391941)", Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin, "Andrei Gromyko Dies, Was Soviet Diplomat for 50 Years", "Belarus: Five things you may not know about the country", Republic of Belarus Presidential Election 19 March 2006: OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Report, "Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions", "Standing up for Free and Fair Elections in Belarus", Belarus election 'neither free nor fair,' says UN human rights expert, "Belarus poll workers describe fraud in Aug. 9 election", "Lukashenka vs. democracy: Where is Belarus heading? Belarus is also known for its strong rhythmic gymnasts. [267][268], Marc Chagall was born in Liozna (near Vitebsk) in 1887. 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. 275-316) Lszl Nndor Magyari [232] The ruble was reintroduced with new values in 2000 and has been in use ever since. [223] [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. [246] The average life expectancy is 72.15 (66.53 years for men and 78.1 years for women). Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Under the 1994 constitution, the president could serve for only two terms as president, but a change in the constitution in 2004 eliminated term limits. As an OSCE member state, Belarus's international commitments are subject to monitoring under the mandate of the U.S. Helsinki Commission. The national awakening in today's Belarus is especially striking because it is taking place in a country that had previously clung to the traditions, symbols, and narratives of the USSR with more enthusiasm than any other former Soviet republic. 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. [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. [205] Each raion has its own legislative authority, or raion council, (Belarusian: ; Russian: ) elected by its residents, and an executive authority or raion administration appointed by oblast executive powers. [116][117] Further sanctions were imposed in 2022 following the country's role in the invasion of Ukraine. [256] Belarusian, although not as widely used as Russian, is the mother tongue of 53.2% of the population, whereas Russian is the mother tongue of only 41.5%.[255]. The official version of events as publicised by the Belarusian government was questioned in the unprecedented wording of the UN Security Council statement condemning "the apparent terrorist attack" intimating the possibility that the Belarusian government itself was behind the bombing. [73][74] The polonization drive was inspired and influenced by the Polish National Democracy, led by Roman Dmowski, who advocated refusing Belarusians and Ukrainians the right for a free national development. Sudovia, in its turn, is one of the names of the Yotvingians. 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 is not in the European Union (EU). [130][131], Belarus borders five countries: Latvia to the north, Lithuania to the northwest, Poland to the west, Russia to the north and the east, and Ukraine to the south. [66], The Republic of Central Lithuania was a short-lived political entity, which was the last attempt to restore Lithuania in the historical confederacy state (it was also supposed to create Lithuania Upper and Lithuania Lower). The depreciation was even steeper on the black market and financial collapse seemed imminent as citizens rushed to exchange their rubles for dollars, euros, durable goods, and canned goods. Belarus has a population density of about 50 people per square kilometre (127 per sqmi); 70% of its total population is concentrated in urban areas. The European Union and the United Kingdom did not recognise the result and the EU imposed sanctions. American taxpayers still give money to Communist China for. [178] Demographic decreases in the Belarusians of conscription age have increased the importance of contract soldiers, who numbered 12,000 in 2001. [164] Travel bans imposed by the European Union have been lifted in the past in order to allow Lukashenko to attend diplomatic meetings and also to engage his government and opposition groups in dialogue. About us. The republic was created in 1920 following the staged rebellion of soldiers of the 1st LithuanianBelarusian Division of the Polish Army under Lucjan eligowski. The former Soviet republic was occupied by the Nazis between 1941 and 1944, when it lost 2.2 million. [23][24], Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin heads the Ministry of Defence,[176] and Alexander Lukashenko (as president) serves as Commander-in-Chief. "I thought he saved us from the 'wild capitalism' of the 1990s, and I voted for him twice," said Vladislav,. Flutter Entertainment Plc: The online gambling firm reported higher full-year revenues and profits, after winning two million new monthly customers through acquisitions and newly legalized sports . The country, which is home to the capital city Minsk, is around 40% forest. Beijing's economic plan has implications beyond business and trade, according to Harley Seyedin, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China. [125], Many streams and 11,000 lakes are found in Belarus. 1921 - The Treaty of Riga divides Belarus between Poland and Soviet Russia. We do not recognize him but we must deal with him", U.S. no longer recognizes Lukashenko as legitimate president of Belarus, "Belarus election: UK refuses to recognise result and demands international investigation into 'grisly repression' of protests", "Canada denounces Lukashenko's inauguration in Belarus, preparing sanctions over human rights violations", "U.S., EU Sanction Belarus in Coordinated Western Action", "Britain and Canada impose sanctions on Belarus leader Lukashenko", "Ukraine conflict: UK sanctions Belarus for role in Russian invasion", "EU bans 70% of Belarus exports to bloc with new sanctions over Ukraine invasion", "Could Russia's Reliance on Belarus be its Soft Underbelly? China is one of the few remaining Communist countries. In 2015, 39.3% of Belarusians were employed by state-controlled companies, 57.2% were employed by private companies (in which the government has a 21.1% stake) and 3.5% were employed by foreign companies. Belarus was part of the Soviet Union and became an independent country in 1991, after the USSR collapsed. Beltelecom is the only operator licensed to provide commercial VoIP services in Belarus. 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. Lukashenko won the election with 80% of the vote; the Russian Federation and the CIS deemed the vote open and fair[152] while the OSCE and other organizations called the election unfair. [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. It was the last Soviet republic where the communist economic system worked and it was also the most militarized. [219] In 2005, nearly a quarter of the population was employed by industrial factories. 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 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. In the 19th century, Polish composer Stanisaw Moniuszko composed operas and chamber music pieces while living in Minsk. [233] As part of the Union of Russia and Belarus, both states have discussed using a single currency along the same lines as the Euro. [179] In 2005, about 1.4% of Belarus's gross domestic product was devoted to military expenditure. Treaties in 1995 and 1996 demarcated Belarus's borders with Latvia and Lithuania, and Belarus ratified a 1997 treaty establishing the Belarus-Ukraine border in 2009. Published 1994, amended in 1996", "SectionV: Local government and self-government", "STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME", " ", " - ", " 434 20.10.1995. Our assessments, publications and research spread knowledge, spark enquiry and aid understanding around the world. The Byelorussian SSR was the hardest-hit Soviet republic in World War II; it remained in Nazi hands until 1944. A well-known journalist in Belarus and a long-time correspondent for Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper, 49-year-old Poczobut was also an activist for the Union of Poles in Belarus (ZPB), a Polish minority organisation that has been delegalised by the Belarusian authorities. [139] The armed forces were formed in 1992 using parts of the former Soviet Armed Forces on the new republic's territory. 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. Darya Domracheva is a leading biathlete whose honours include three gold medals at the 2014 Winter Olympics. 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. The Belarusian Constitution forbids the use of special extrajudicial courts. Belarus has so far won five medals (two silvers and three bronzes) at the 2nd edition of the Children of Asia Games.