--- title: Belarus — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 4 description: Wikipedia's «Belarus», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/page/4/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Belarus # Belarus · page 4 From Wikipedia, [«Belarus»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/page/3/) **4** [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/page/5/) Bilateral relations with the United States are strained; the United States has not had an ambassador in Minsk since 2007 and Belarus has not had an ambassador in Washington since 2008.[\[181\]](../../page/5/#ref-181 "note 181")[\[182\]](../../page/5/#ref-182 "note 182")[246](../../246/ "tree and pragmatics") Diplomatic relations remained tense, and in 2004, the United States passed the [Belarus Democracy Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus_Democracy_Act_of_2004), which authorised funding for anti-government Belarusian NGOs, and prohibited loans to the Belarusian government, except for humanitarian purposes.[\[183\]](../../page/5/#ref-183 "note 183")[247](../../247/ "tree and pragmatics") Relations between [China and Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus–China_relations) are close,[\[184\]](../../page/5/#ref-184 "note 184") with Lukashenko visiting China multiple times during his tenure.[\[185\]](../../page/5/#ref-185 "note 185")[248](../../248/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus also has strong ties with [Syria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria) [corpus](../../../Syria/ "in our corpus"),[\[186\]](../../page/5/#ref-186 "note 186") considered a key partner in the Middle East.[\[187\]](../../page/5/#ref-187 "note 187")[249](../../249/ "tree and pragmatics") In addition to the CIS, Belarus is a member of the [Eurasian Economic Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Economic_Union) (previously the [Eurasian Economic Community](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Economic_Community)), the [Collective Security Treaty Organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_Security_Treaty_Organization),[\[179\]](../../page/5/#ref-179 "note 179") the international [Non-Aligned Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Aligned_Movement) since 1998,[\[188\]](../../page/5/#ref-188 "note 188") and the [Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_on_Security_and_Cooperation_in_Europe) (OSCE).[250](../../250/ "tree and pragmatics") As an OSCE member state, Belarus's international commitments are subject to monitoring under the mandate of the [US Helsinki Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Helsinki_Commission).[\[189\]](../../page/5/#ref-189 "note 189")[251](../../251/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus is included in the European Union's [Eastern Partnership](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Partnership) programme, part of the EU's [European Neighbourhood Policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Neighbourhood_Policy) (ENP), which aims to bring the EU and its neighbours closer in economic and geopolitical terms.[\[190\]](../../page/5/#ref-190 "note 190")[252](../../252/ "tree and pragmatics") However, Belarus suspended its participation in the Eastern Partnership programme on 28 June 2021, after the EU imposed more sanctions against the country.[\[191\]](../../page/5/#ref-191 "note 191")[\[192\]](../../page/5/#ref-192 "note 192")[253](../../253/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Military Main article: [Armed Forces of Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_of_Belarus) Lieutenant General [Viktor Khrenin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Khrenin) heads the Ministry of Defence,[\[193\]](../../page/5/#ref-193 "note 193") and Alexander Lukashenko (as president) serves as Commander-in-Chief.[\[143\]](../../page/5/#ref-143 "note 143")[254](../../254/ "tree and pragmatics") The armed forces were formed in 1992 using parts of the former [Soviet Armed Forces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Armed_Forces) on the new republic's territory.[255](../../255/ "tree and pragmatics") The transformation of the ex-Soviet forces into the Armed Forces of Belarus, which was completed in 1997, reduced the number of its soldiers by 30,000 and restructured its leadership and military formations.[\[194\]](../../page/5/#ref-194 "note 194")[256](../../256/ "tree and pragmatics") Most of Belarus's service members are [conscripts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription), who serve for 12 months if they have higher education or 18 months if they do not.[\[195\]](../../page/5/#ref-195 "note 195")[257](../../257/ "tree and pragmatics") Demographic decreases in the Belarusians of conscription age have increased the importance of contract soldiers, who numbered 12,000 in 2001.[\[196\]](../../page/5/#ref-196 "note 196")[258](../../258/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2005, about 1.4% of Belarus's gross domestic product was devoted to military expenditure.[\[197\]](../../page/5/#ref-197 "note 197")[259](../../259/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus has not expressed a desire to join [NATO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO) but has participated in the Individual Partnership Program since 1997,[\[198\]](../../page/5/#ref-198 "note 198") and Belarus provided refuelling and airspace support for the [International Security Assistance Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Security_Assistance_Force) mission in [Afghanistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan) [corpus](../../../Afghanistan/ "in our corpus").[\[199\]](../../page/5/#ref-199 "note 199")[260](../../260/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus first began to cooperate with NATO upon signing documents to participate in their Partnership for Peace Program in 1995.[\[200\]](../../page/5/#ref-200 "note 200")[261](../../261/ "tree and pragmatics") However, Belarus cannot join NATO because it is a member of the CSTO.[262](../../262/ "tree and pragmatics") Tensions between NATO and Belarus peaked after the March 2006 presidential election in Belarus.[\[201\]](../../page/5/#ref-201 "note 201")[263](../../263/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Human rights and corruption Further information: [Human rights in Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Belarus) [Amnesty International](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty_International),[\[202\]](../../page/5/#ref-202 "note 202") and [Human Rights Watch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Watch)[\[203\]](../../page/5/#ref-203 "note 203") have criticised Lukashenko's violations of human rights.[264](../../264/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus's [Democracy Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index) rating is the lowest in Europe, the country is labelled as "not free" by [Freedom House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_House),[\[204\]](../../page/5/#ref-204 "note 204") as "repressed" in the [Index of Economic Freedom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Index_of_Economic_Freedom), and in the [Press Freedom Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_Freedom_Index) published by [Reporters Without Borders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reporters_Without_Borders), Belarus is ranked 153rd out of 180 countries for 2022.[\[205\]](../../page/5/#ref-205 "note 205")[265](../../265/ "tree and pragmatics") The Belarusian government is criticised for human rights violations and its persecution of non-governmental organisations, journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians.[\[202\]](../../page/5/#ref-202 "note 202")[\[203\]](../../page/5/#ref-203 "note 203")[266](../../266/ "tree and pragmatics") Lukashenko announced a law in 2014 that prohibits [kolkhoz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolkhoz) farm workers (9% of work force) from leaving their jobs at will—a change of job and living location will require permission from governors.[267](../../267/ "tree and pragmatics") Lukashenko himself compared the law with [serfdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serfdom).[\[206\]](../../page/5/#ref-206 "note 206")[\[207\]](../../page/5/#ref-207 "note 207")[\[208\]](../../page/5/#ref-208 "note 208")[268](../../268/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus is the only European country still using [capital punishment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment), having carried out executions in 2011.[\[209\]](../../page/5/#ref-209 "note 209")[269](../../269/ "tree and pragmatics") [LGBTQ rights in Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_Belarus) are ranked among the lowest in Europe.[\[210\]](../../page/5/#ref-210 "note 210")[270](../../270/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2023, Lukashenko signed a law which allows using capital punishment against officials and soldiers convicted of high [treason](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason).[\[211\]](../../page/5/#ref-211 "note 211")[271](../../271/ "tree and pragmatics") The judicial system lacks independence and is subject to political interference.[\[212\]](../../page/5/#ref-212 "note 212")[272](../../272/ "tree and pragmatics") Corrupt practices such as bribery often took place during tender processes, and [whistleblower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistleblower) protection and national [ombudsman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ombudsman) are lacking in Belarus's anti-corruption system.[\[213\]](../../page/5/#ref-213 "note 213")[273](../../273/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2020, the [Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_United_Nations_High_Commissioner_for_Human_Rights) declared it had received reports of 450 documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of people who were arrested during the [2020–2021 Belarusian protests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020–2021_Belarusian_protests) following the presidential election.[274](../../274/ "tree and pragmatics") The reports included violence against women and children, including sexual abuse and rape with rubber batons.[\[214\]](../../page/5/#ref-214 "note 214")[275](../../275/ "tree and pragmatics") At least three detainees suffered injuries indicative of sexual violence in [Okrestino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okrestino) prison in Minsk, or on the way there.[\[215\]](../../page/5/#ref-215 "note 215")[276](../../276/ "tree and pragmatics") In an interview from September 2020 Lukashenko claimed that detainees faked their bruises, saying, "Some of the girls there had their butts painted in blue".[\[216\]](../../page/5/#ref-216 "note 216")[277](../../277/ "tree and pragmatics") On 23 May 2021, Belarusian authorities forcibly diverted [Ryanair Flight 4978](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryanair_Flight_4978) from [Athens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens) [corpus](../../../Athens/ "in our corpus") to [Vilnius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilnius) [corpus](../../../Vilnius/ "in our corpus") to detain opposition activist and journalist [Roman Protasevich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Protasevich) along with his girlfriend; in response, the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union) imposed stricter sanctions on Belarus.[\[217\]](../../page/5/#ref-217 "note 217")[278](../../278/ "tree and pragmatics") In May 2021, Lukashenko threatened that he would flood the European Union with migrants and drugs as a response to the sanctions.[\[218\]](../../page/5/#ref-218 "note 218")[279](../../279/ "tree and pragmatics") In July 2021, Belarusian authorities launched [hybrid warfare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_warfare) by [human trafficking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking) of [migrants to the European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus–European_Union_border_crisis).[\[219\]](../../page/5/#ref-219 "note 219")[280](../../280/ "tree and pragmatics") [Lithuanian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuania) [corpus](../../../Lithuania/ "in our corpus") authorities and European officials [Ursula von der Leyen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursula_von_der_Leyen), [Josep Borrell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josep_Borrell) condemned the usage of migrants as a weapon and suggested Belarus could be subject to further sanctions.[\[220\]](../../page/5/#ref-220 "note 220")[281](../../281/ "tree and pragmatics") In August 2021, Belarusian officials, wearing uniforms, riot shields and helmets, were recorded on camera near the [Belarus–Lithuania border](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus–Lithuania_border) pushing and urging the migrants to cross the EU border.[\[221\]](../../page/5/#ref-221 "note 221")[282](../../282/ "tree and pragmatics") Following the granting of humanitarian visas to Olympic athlete [Krystsina Tsimanouskaya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krystsina_Tsimanouskaya) and her husband, [Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland) [corpus](../../../Poland/ "in our corpus") accused Belarus of organising hybrid warfare as the number of migrants crossing the [Belarus–Poland border](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus–Poland_border) sharply increased compared to 2020.[\[222\]](../../page/5/#ref-222 "note 222")[\[223\]](../../page/5/#ref-223 "note 223")[283](../../283/ "tree and pragmatics") Illegal migrants numbers exceeded the previous annual numbers in [Latvia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia) [corpus](../../../Latvia/ "in our corpus").[\[224\]](../../page/5/#ref-224 "note 224")[284](../../284/ "tree and pragmatics") On 2 December 2021, the United States, EU, UK and [Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada) [corpus](../../../Canada/ "in our corpus") imposed new sanctions on Belarus.[\[225\]](../../page/5/#ref-225 "note 225")[285](../../285/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Economy Main article: [Economy of Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Belarus) Belarus is [a developing country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_country), but at 60th place in the United Nations' [Human Development Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index), it has "very high" human development.[\[226\]](../../page/5/#ref-226 "note 226")[286](../../286/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2019, the share of manufacturing in GDP was 31%.[287](../../287/ "tree and pragmatics") Manufacturing employed 35% of the workforce.[\[227\]](../../page/5/#ref-227 "note 227")[288](../../288/ "tree and pragmatics") Manufacturing growth is much smaller than for the economy as a whole—about 2.2% in 2021.[289](../../289/ "tree and pragmatics") Important agricultural products include potatoes and cattle byproducts, including meat.[\[228\]](../../page/5/#ref-228 "note 228")[290](../../290/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Trade Belarus has trade relations with over 180 countries.[291](../../291/ "tree and pragmatics") As of 2024, its main trading partners were Russia, which accounted for 66% of Belarus' international trade, and EU countries, with 11% of the country's trade.[\[229\]](../../page/5/#ref-229 "note 229")[292](../../292/ "tree and pragmatics") In April 2022, as a result of its facilitation of the [2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine), the EU imposed trade sanctions on Belarus.[\[230\]](../../page/5/#ref-230 "note 230")[293](../../293/ "tree and pragmatics") The sanctions were extended and expanded in August 2023.[\[231\]](../../page/5/#ref-231 "note 231")[294](../../294/ "tree and pragmatics") These sanctions are in addition to those imposed following the rigged 2020 "election" of Lukashenko.[\[232\]](../../page/5/#ref-232 "note 232")[295](../../295/ "tree and pragmatics") At the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Belarus was one of the world's most industrially developed states by proportion of GDP and the richest CIS member-state.[\[233\]](../../page/5/#ref-233 "note 233")[296](../../296/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2015, 39.3% of Belarusians were employed by state-controlled companies, 57.2% by private companies (in which the government has a 21.1% stake) and 3.5% by foreign companies.[\[234\]](../../page/5/#ref-234 "note 234")[297](../../297/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1994, Belarus's main exports included heavy machinery (especially [tractors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus_%28tractor%29)), agricultural products, and energy products.[\[235\]](../../page/5/#ref-235 "note 235")[298](../../298/ "tree and pragmatics") Economically, Belarus involved itself in the [Commonwealth of Independent States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Independent_States) (CIS), [Eurasian Economic Community](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Economic_Community), and [Union with Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_State).[\[236\]](../../page/5/#ref-236 "note 236")[299](../../299/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 1990s, industrial production plunged due to decreases in imports, investment, and demand for Belarusian products from its trading partners.[\[237\]](../../page/5/#ref-237 "note 237")[300](../../300/ "tree and pragmatics") GDP only began to rise in 1996;[\[238\]](../../page/5/#ref-238 "note 238") the country was the fastest-recovering former Soviet republic in the terms of its economy.[\[239\]](../../page/5/#ref-239 "note 239")[301](../../301/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2006, GDP amounted to US$83.1 billion in [purchasing power parity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity) (PPP) dollars (estimate), or about $8,100 per capita.[\[228\]](../../page/5/#ref-228 "note 228")[302](../../302/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2005, GDP increased by 9.9%; the inflation rate averaged 9.5%.[\[228\]](../../page/5/#ref-228 "note 228")[303](../../303/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus was ranked 85th in the [Global Innovation Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Innovation_Index) in 2024,[\[240\]](../../page/5/#ref-240 "note 240") and remained in the same rank in 2025.[\[241\]](../../page/5/#ref-241 "note 241")[304](../../304/ "tree and pragmatics") Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, under Lukashenko's leadership, Belarus has maintained government control of key industries and eschewed the large-scale privatisations seen in other former Soviet republics.[\[242\]](../../page/5/#ref-242 "note 242")[305](../../305/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus applied to become a member of the [World Trade Organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organization) in 1993.[\[243\]](../../page/5/#ref-243 "note 243")[306](../../306/ "tree and pragmatics") Due to its failure to protect labour rights, including passing laws forbidding unemployment or working outside state-controlled sectors,[\[244\]](../../page/5/#ref-244 "note 244") Belarus lost its EU [Generalized System of Preferences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalized_System_of_Preferences) status on 21 June 2007, which raised tariff rates to their prior [most favoured nation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_favoured_nation) levels.[\[245\]](../../page/5/#ref-245 "note 245")[307](../../307/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Employment The labour force consists of more than 4 million people, of whom women are slightly more than men.[\[234\]](../../page/5/#ref-234 "note 234")[308](../../308/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2005, nearly a quarter of the population was employed in industrial factories.[309](../../309/ "tree and pragmatics") Employment is also high in agriculture, manufacturing sales, trading goods, and education.[310](../../310/ "tree and pragmatics") The unemployment rate was 1.5% in 2005, according to government statistics.[311](../../311/ "tree and pragmatics") There were 679,000 unemployed Belarusians, of whom two-thirds were women.[312](../../312/ "tree and pragmatics") The unemployment rate has been declining since 2003, and the overall rate of employment is the highest since statistics were first compiled in 1995.[\[234\]](../../page/5/#ref-234 "note 234")[313](../../313/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Currency The currency of Belarus is the [Belarusian ruble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusian_ruble).[314](../../314/ "tree and pragmatics") The currency was introduced in May 1992 to replace the [Soviet ruble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_ruble) and it has undergone [redenomination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redenomination) twice since then.[315](../../315/ "tree and pragmatics") The first coins of the Republic of Belarus were issued on 27 December 1996.[\[246\]](../../page/5/#ref-246 "note 246")[316](../../316/ "tree and pragmatics") The ruble was reintroduced with new values in 2000 and has been in use ever since.[\[247\]](../../page/5/#ref-247 "note 247")[317](../../317/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2007, The [National Bank of Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Bank_of_the_Republic_of_Belarus) abandoned pegging the Belarusian ruble to the [Russian ruble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_ruble).[\[248\]](../../page/5/#ref-248 "note 248")[318](../../318/ "tree and pragmatics") As part of the Union of Russia and Belarus, the two states have discussed using a single currency analogous to the Euro.[319](../../319/ "tree and pragmatics") This led to a proposal that the Belarusian ruble be discontinued in favour of the Russian ruble (RUB), starting as early as 1 January 2008.[320](../../320/ "tree and pragmatics") On 23 May 2011, the ruble depreciated 56% against the United States dollar.[321](../../321/ "tree and pragmatics") 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.[\[249\]](../../page/5/#ref-249 "note 249")[322](../../322/ "tree and pragmatics") On 1 June 2011, Belarus requested an economic rescue package from the [International Monetary Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund).[\[250\]](../../page/5/#ref-250 "note 250")[\[251\]](../../page/5/#ref-251 "note 251")[323](../../323/ "tree and pragmatics") A new currency, the new Belarusian ruble ([ISO 4217](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_4217) code: BYN)[\[252\]](../../page/5/#ref-252 "note 252") was introduced in July 2016, replacing the [Belarusian ruble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusian_ruble) in a rate of 1:10,000 (10,000 old ruble = 1 new ruble).[324](../../324/ "tree and pragmatics") From 1 July until 31 December 2016, the old and new currencies were in parallel circulation, and series 2000 notes and coins could be exchanged for series 2009 from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021.[\[252\]](../../page/5/#ref-252 "note 252")[325](../../325/ "tree and pragmatics") This [redenomination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redenomination) can be considered an effort to fight the high inflation rate.[\[253\]](../../page/5/#ref-253 "note 253")[\[254\]](../../page/5/#ref-254 "note 254")[326](../../326/ "tree and pragmatics") On 6 October 2022, Lukashenko banned price increases, to combat food inflation.[\[255\]](../../page/5/#ref-255 "note 255")[327](../../327/ "tree and pragmatics") In January 2023, Belarus legalised [copyright infringement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringement) of [media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_media) and [intellectual property](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property) created by "unfriendly" foreign nations.[\[256\]](../../page/5/#ref-256 "note 256")[328](../../328/ "tree and pragmatics") The banking system of Belarus consists of two levels: the Central Bank (National Bank of the Republic of Belarus) and 25 commercial banks.[\[257\]](../../page/5/#ref-257 "note 257")[329](../../329/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Free economic zones Belarus has established six [free economic zones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_economic_zone) to encourage investment and development.[330](../../330/ "tree and pragmatics") The zones are:[\[258\]](../../page/5/#ref-258 "note 258")[331](../../331/ "tree and pragmatics") - FEZ Brest (1996)[332](../../332/ "tree and pragmatics") - FEZ Gomel-Raton (1998)[333](../../333/ "tree and pragmatics") - FEZ Grodnoinvest (2002)[334](../../334/ "tree and pragmatics") - FEZ Minsk (1998)[335](../../335/ "tree and pragmatics") - FEZ Mogilev (2002)[336](../../336/ "tree and pragmatics") - FEZ Vitebsk (1999)[337](../../337/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Telecommunications Main article: [Telecommunications in Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Belarus) See also: [Censorship in Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Belarus) - Country code: [.by](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.by)[338](../../338/ "tree and pragmatics") The state telecom monopoly, Beltelecom, holds the exclusive interconnection with Internet providers outside of Belarus.[339](../../339/ "tree and pragmatics") Beltelecom owns all the backbone channels that linked to the Lattelecom, TEO LT, [Tata Communications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Communications) (former [Teleglobe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleglobe)), Synterra, [Rostelecom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rostelecom), Transtelekom and MTS ISPs.[340](../../340/ "tree and pragmatics") Beltelecom is the only operator licensed to provide commercial VoIP services in Belarus.[\[259\]](../../page/5/#ref-259 "note 259")[341](../../341/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Demographics Main article: [Demographics of Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Belarus), [Belarusians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusians) According to the 2019 census the population was 9.41 million[\[260\]](../../page/5/#ref-260 "note 260") with ethnic [Belarusians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusians) constituting 84.9% of Belarus's total population.[\[260\]](../../page/5/#ref-260 "note 260")[342](../../342/ "tree and pragmatics") Minority groups include: [Russians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russians) (7.5%), [Poles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_people) (3.1%), and [Ukrainians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainians) (1.7%).[\[260\]](../../page/5/#ref-260 "note 260")[343](../../343/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus has a population density of about 50 people per square kilometre (127 per sq mi); 70% of its total population is concentrated in urban areas.[\[261\]](../../page/5/#ref-261 "note 261")[344](../../344/ "tree and pragmatics") [Minsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk) [corpus](../../../Minsk/ "in our corpus"), the nation's capital and largest city, was home to 1,937,900 residents as of 2015.[\[262\]](../../page/5/#ref-262 "note 262")[345](../../345/ "tree and pragmatics") [Gomel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomel), with a population of 481,000, is the second-largest city and serves as the capital of the [Gomel Region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomel_Region).[346](../../346/ "tree and pragmatics") Other large cities are [Mogilev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogilev) (365,100), [Vitebsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitebsk) (342,400), [Grodno](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grodno) (314,800) and [Brest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brest,_Belarus) (298,300).[\[263\]](../../page/5/#ref-263 "note 263")[347](../../347/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/page/3/) **4** [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/page/5/) - ← previous: [page 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/page/3/) - next →: [page 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/page/5/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)