Belarus
General InformationThe Republic of Belarus is located in eastcentral Europe. The country covers an area of about 207,600 sq. km. It is bounded by the Baltic republics of Latvia and Lithuania to the north west; by Russia to the east; by Ukraine to the south; and by Poland to the west. The capital and largest city is Minsk. The official state languages are Belarusian and Russian. The unit of currency is the Belarusian ruble. | |
Historical BackgroundThe first state like formation on the territory of current Belarus was the Principality of Polotsk created in 9th-10th centuries. In the first half of the 13th-14th centuries, under the threat of foreign aggression, the north western territories of Belarus around Navahrudak united with the territories of the neighbouring Baltic tribes into one state – the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which became a first common state of Belarusians and Lithuanians. In 16th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania created a confederation with Poland under the name of Rzeczpospolita (Commonwealth). In the 18th century, it was annexed by the Russian Empire. Belarus was established in 1918 as the Belarusian People's Republic, which, however, did not manage to gain full sovereignty and recognition. In 1919, the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was created. It became one of the four founding republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922. In August 1991, Belarus declared its independence, while the USSR was formally dissolved in late December 1991 after the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, with Minsk as its headquarters. The first post Soviet Constitution was adopted in 1994 and amended in 1996. | |
GovernmentThe head of state is a popularly elected president. The president creates a Council of Ministers, whose chairman is a country's prime minister. The legislature is a bicameral National Assembly that consists of a 110 member Chamber of Representatives and a 64 member Council of the Republic. The judicial system comprises three high courts: the Supreme Court, the Supreme Economic Court, and the Constitutional Court, and regional, district and local courts. Belarus is administratively divided into six regions, which have the same names as their largest cities. Each region has its own council for administration of regional affairs. | |
PopulationIn 2006, the population of Belarus was estimated at 9,7 million. An average population density is about 50 persons per sq. km. Some 69 percent of the population reside in urban areas. Nearly 80 percent of the population are ethnic Belarusians. The remainder comprises Russians (around 11 percent), Poles, Ukrainians, and Jews. Among the believers, about 80 percent associate themselves with Orthodoxy, and 15-20 percent with Catholicism. Smaller groups adhere to the Eastern (Uniate) Catholic, Jewish, Protestant and Muslim faiths. | |
EconomyManufacturing contributes most to the country's industrial output. The most important manufactured products are machinery, transport vehicles, motorcycles, refrigerators, television sets, and metal-cutting machines. The principal crops are potatoes, grains (especially barley and rye), and sugar beets. Belarus possesses valuable stands of forest. Forestry products include furniture and plywood. Belarus exports transport equipment (mainly tractors), machinery, chemicals, and foodstuff. Belarus' customers for exports are Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Imports include fuel, natural gas, industrial raw materials, textiles, and sugar. Russia supplies most of the country's fuel imports. Other sources for imports are Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and Lithuania. | |
Social SystemEducation is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 14. Higher education institutions include universities, the largest of which is the Belarusian State University (founded in 1921) in Minsk. There also are a number of specialised academies and institutes for studies in technical arts, agriculture, medicine, economics, and other fields. Health care in Belarus is state operated. Hospitals are, however, undersupplied. Basic medical care is free. The state provides pensions and other social benefits to children and its aged and incapacitated nationals, including prenatal and maternity allowances, sickness compensation, and unemployment benefits. | |
Membership in International OrganisationsBelarus is a founding member of the United Nations and a number of UN agencies, such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UNESCO, and World Health Organisation. It is a member of the International Labour Organisation. Since 1992, Belarus is a member of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The Belarusian Parliament special guest status at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was suspended in 1997. The country has become full member of the International Organisation for Migration in 2005. In early 1995, the country joined the NATO Partnership for Peace programme. Belarus is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States. | |
UNHCR activities in the country | |
Legislation on Migration and AsylumThe migration and asylum issues are regulated by the following main legal documents:
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Participation in International and Regional InitiativesBelarus participates in the following international and regional initiatives in the field of asylum, migration and border management:
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