--- title: Belarus — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 5 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/5/) [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 5 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/) … [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/page/4/) **5** Like many other Eastern European countries, Belarus has a negative population growth rate and a negative natural growth rate.[348](../../348/ "tree and pragmatics") In 2007, Belarus's population declined by 0.41% and its [fertility rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_fertility_rate) was 1.22,[\[264\]](../../page/5/#ref-264 "note 264") well [below the replacement rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-replacement_fertility).[349](../../349/ "tree and pragmatics") However, its [net migration rate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_migration_rate) is 0.38 per 1,000, indicating that Belarus experiences slightly more immigration than emigration, unlike most neighbouring countries which experience significant negative net migration. as of 2015, 69.9% of Belarus's population is aged 14 to 64; 15.5% is under 14, and 14.6% is 65 or older.[350](../../350/ "tree and pragmatics") Its population is also ageing; the median age of 30–34 is estimated to rise to between 60 and 64 in 2050.[\[265\]](../../page/5/#ref-265 "note 265")[351](../../351/ "tree and pragmatics") There are about 0.87 males per female in Belarus.[\[264\]](../../page/5/#ref-264 "note 264")[352](../../352/ "tree and pragmatics") The average life expectancy is 72.15 (66.53 years for men and 78.1 years for women).[\[264\]](../../page/5/#ref-264 "note 264")[353](../../353/ "tree and pragmatics") Over 99% of Belarusians aged 15 and older are [literate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literate).[\[264\]](../../page/5/#ref-264 "note 264")[354](../../354/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Languages Main article: [Languages of Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Belarus) Belarus's two official languages are [Russian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language) and [Belarusian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusian_language).[\[266\]](../../page/5/#ref-266 "note 266")[355](../../355/ "tree and pragmatics") According to data published by the [National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Statistical_Committee_of_the_Republic_of_Belarus), the [2019 census](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Belarus_census) recorded that 54.1% of the population described Belarusian as their "mother tongue" compared to 42.3% who described Russian in that way.[\[267\]](../../page/5/#ref-267 "note 267")[356](../../356/ "tree and pragmatics") In addition, 71.4% described Russian and 26% described Belarusian as the "language normally spoken at home".[\[268\]](../../page/5/#ref-268 "note 268")[357](../../357/ "tree and pragmatics") Minorities also speak [Polish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_language), [Ukrainian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language) and [Eastern Yiddish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Yiddish).[\[269\]](../../page/5/#ref-269 "note 269")[358](../../358/ "tree and pragmatics") Following the election of [Alexander Lukashenko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lukashenko), plans to have most schools teach in Belarusian were scrapped and they continued mainly teaching in Russian.[\[270\]](../../page/5/#ref-270 "note 270")[359](../../359/ "tree and pragmatics") The annual circulation of Belarusian-language literature also significantly decreased from 1990 to 2020.[\[271\]](../../page/5/#ref-271 "note 271")[360](../../360/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Religion Main article: [Religion in Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Belarus) According to the census of November 2011, 58.9% of all Belarusians adhered to some kind of religion; out of those, [Eastern Orthodoxy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodoxy) made up about 82%: Eastern Orthodox in Belarus are mainly part of the [Belarusian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusian_Exarchate_of_the_Russian_Orthodox_Church), though a small [Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusian_Autocephalous_Orthodox_Church) also exists.[\[272\]](../../page/5/#ref-272 "note 272")[361](../../361/ "tree and pragmatics") [Roman Catholicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism_in_Belarus) is practised mostly in the western regions, and there are also different denominations of Protestantism.[\[273\]](../../page/5/#ref-273 "note 273")[\[274\]](../../page/5/#ref-274 "note 274")[362](../../362/ "tree and pragmatics") Minorities also practice [Greek Catholicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusian_Greek_Catholic_Church), [Judaism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism), [Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam) and [neo-paganism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_paganism).[363](../../363/ "tree and pragmatics") Overall, 48.3% of the population is Orthodox Christian, 41.1% is not religious, 7.1% is Roman Catholic and 3.3% follows other religions.[\[272\]](../../page/5/#ref-272 "note 272")[364](../../364/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus's Catholic minority is concentrated in the western part of the country, especially around [Grodno](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grodno), consisting of a mixture of Belarusians and the country's [Polish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_people) and [Lithuanian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuanian_people) minorities.[\[275\]](../../page/5/#ref-275 "note 275")[365](../../365/ "tree and pragmatics") President Lukashenko has stated that Orthodox and Catholic believers are the "two main confessions in our country".[\[276\]](../../page/5/#ref-276 "note 276")[366](../../366/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus was once a major centre of European Jews, with 10% of the population being [Jewish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Belarus).[367](../../367/ "tree and pragmatics") But since the mid-20th century, the number of Jews has been reduced by [the Holocaust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust), deportation, and emigration, so that today it is a very small minority of less than one per cent.[\[277\]](../../page/5/#ref-277 "note 277")[368](../../368/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Lipka Tatars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipka_Tatars), numbering over 15,000, are predominantly [Muslims](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Belarus).[369](../../369/ "tree and pragmatics") According to Article 16 of the [Constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Belarus), Belarus has no official religion.[370](../../370/ "tree and pragmatics") While the [freedom of worship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion) is granted in the same article, religious organisations deemed harmful to the government or social order can be prohibited.[\[170\]](../../page/5/#ref-170 "note 170")[371](../../371/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Culture Main article: [Culture of Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Belarus) ### Arts and literature The Belarusian government sponsors annual cultural festivals such as the [Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavianski_Bazaar_in_Vitebsk),[\[278\]](../../page/5/#ref-278 "note 278") which showcases Belarusian performers, artists, writers, musicians, and actors.[372](../../372/ "tree and pragmatics") Several state holidays, such as [Independence Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_%28Belarus%29) and [Victory Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Day_%289_May%29), draw big crowds and often include displays such as fireworks and military parades, especially in Vitebsk and Minsk.[\[279\]](../../page/5/#ref-279 "note 279")[373](../../373/ "tree and pragmatics") The government's Ministry of Culture finances events promoting Belarusian arts and culture both inside and outside the country.[374](../../374/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarusian literature[\[280\]](../../page/5/#ref-280 "note 280") began with 11th- to 13th-century religious scripture, such as the 12th-century poetry of [Cyril of Turaw](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_of_Turaw).[\[281\]](../../page/5/#ref-281 "note 281")[375](../../375/ "tree and pragmatics") By the 16th century, [Polotsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polotsk) resident [Francysk Skaryna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francysk_Skaryna) translated the Bible into Belarusian.[376](../../376/ "tree and pragmatics") It was published in [Prague](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague) [corpus](../../../Prague/ "in our corpus") and [Vilnius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilnius) [corpus](../../../Vilnius/ "in our corpus") sometime between 1517 and 1525, making it the first book printed in Belarus or anywhere in Eastern Europe.[\[282\]](../../page/5/#ref-282 "note 282")[377](../../377/ "tree and pragmatics") The modern era of Belarusian literature began in the late 19th century; one prominent writer was [Yanka Kupala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yanka_Kupala).[378](../../378/ "tree and pragmatics") Many Belarusian writers of the time, such as [Uładzimir Žyłka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uładzimir_Žyłka), Kazimir Svayak, [Yakub Kolas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakub_Kolas), [Źmitrok Biadula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Źmitrok_Biadula), and [Maksim Haretski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maksim_Haretski), wrote for [Nasha Niva](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasha_Niva), a Belarusian-language paper published that was previously published in Vilnius but now is published in Minsk.[\[283\]](../../page/5/#ref-283 "note 283")[379](../../379/ "tree and pragmatics") After Belarus was incorporated into the Soviet Union, the Soviet government took control of the Republic's cultural affairs.[380](../../380/ "tree and pragmatics") At first, a policy of "Belarusianization" was followed in the newly formed Byelorussian SSR.[381](../../381/ "tree and pragmatics") This policy was reversed in the 1930s, and the majority of prominent Belarusian intellectuals and nationalist advocates were either exiled or killed in Stalinist purges.[\[284\]](../../page/5/#ref-284 "note 284")[382](../../382/ "tree and pragmatics") The free development of literature occurred only in Polish-held territory until Soviet occupation in 1939.[383](../../383/ "tree and pragmatics") Several poets and authors went into exile after the Nazi occupation of Belarus and would not return until the 1960s.[\[282\]](../../page/5/#ref-282 "note 282")[384](../../384/ "tree and pragmatics") The last major revival of Belarusian literature occurred in the 1960s with novels published by [Vasil Bykaŭ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasil_Bykaŭ) and [Uladzimir Karatkievich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uladzimir_Karatkievich).[385](../../385/ "tree and pragmatics") An influential author who examined the catastrophes the country has suffered was [Ales Adamovich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ales_Adamovich).[386](../../386/ "tree and pragmatics") He was named by [Svetlana Alexievich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana_Alexievich), the Belarusian winner of the [Nobel Prize in Literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_in_Literature) 2015, as "her main teacher, who helped her to find a path of her own".[\[285\]](../../page/5/#ref-285 "note 285")[387](../../387/ "tree and pragmatics") [Music in Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Belarus) largely comprises a rich tradition of folk and religious music.[388](../../388/ "tree and pragmatics") The country's folk music traditions can be traced back to the times of the [Grand Duchy of Lithuania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchy_of_Lithuania).[389](../../389/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 19th century, Polish composer [Stanisław Moniuszko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanisław_Moniuszko) composed operas and chamber music pieces while living in Minsk.[390](../../390/ "tree and pragmatics") During his stay, he worked with Belarusian poet [Vintsent Dunin-Martsinkyevich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vintsent_Dunin-Martsinkyevich) and created the opera Sialanka (Peasant Woman).[391](../../391/ "tree and pragmatics") At the end of the 19th century, major Belarusian cities formed their own opera and ballet companies.[392](../../392/ "tree and pragmatics") The ballet [Nightingale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightingale_%28ballet%29) 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.[\[286\]](../../page/5/#ref-286 "note 286")[393](../../393/ "tree and pragmatics") After the [Second World War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_World_War), music focused on the hardships of the Belarusian people or on those who took up arms in defence of the homeland.[394](../../394/ "tree and pragmatics") During this period, [Anatoly Bogatyrev](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatoly_Bogatyrev), creator of the opera In Polesye Virgin Forest, served as the "tutor" of Belarusian composers.[\[287\]](../../page/5/#ref-287 "note 287")[395](../../395/ "tree and pragmatics") The National Academic Theatre of Ballet in Minsk was awarded the [Benois de la Dance Prize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prix_Benois_de_la_Danse) in 1996 as the top ballet company in the world.[\[287\]](../../page/5/#ref-287 "note 287")[396](../../396/ "tree and pragmatics") Rock music has become increasingly popular in recent years, though the Belarusian government has attempted to limit the amount of foreign music aired on the radio in favour of traditional Belarusian music.[397](../../397/ "tree and pragmatics") Since 2004, Belarus has been sending artists to the [Eurovision Song Contest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest).[\[288\]](../../page/5/#ref-288 "note 288")[\[289\]](../../page/5/#ref-289 "note 289")[398](../../398/ "tree and pragmatics") [Marc Chagall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Chagall) was born in Liozna (near [Vitebsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitebsk)) in 1887.[399](../../399/ "tree and pragmatics") He spent the [World War I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I) years in Soviet Belarus, becoming one of the country's most distinguished artists and a member of the modernist [avant-garde](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avant-garde) and was a founder of the Vitebsk Arts College.[\[290\]](../../page/5/#ref-290 "note 290")[\[291\]](../../page/5/#ref-291 "note 291")[400](../../400/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Dress The traditional Belarusian dress originates from the [Kievan Rus'](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kievan_Rus%27) period.[401](../../401/ "tree and pragmatics") Due to the cool climate, clothes were designed to conserve body heat and were usually made from [flax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flax) or [wool](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wool).[402](../../402/ "tree and pragmatics") They were decorated with ornate patterns influenced by the neighbouring cultures: Poles, Lithuanians, Latvians, Russians, and other European nations.[403](../../403/ "tree and pragmatics") Each region of Belarus has developed specific design patterns.[\[292\]](../../page/5/#ref-292 "note 292")[404](../../404/ "tree and pragmatics") One ornamental pattern common in early dresses currently decorates the hoist of the [Belarusian national flag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Belarus), adopted in a [disputed referendum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Belarusian_referendum) in 1995.[\[293\]](../../page/5/#ref-293 "note 293")[405](../../405/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Cuisine [Belarusian cuisine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarusian_cuisine) consists mainly of vegetables, meat (particularly pork), and bread.[406](../../406/ "tree and pragmatics") Foods are usually either slowly cooked or [stewed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewed).[407](../../407/ "tree and pragmatics") Typically, Belarusians eat a light breakfast and two hearty meals later in the day.[408](../../408/ "tree and pragmatics") [Wheat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat) and [rye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rye) bread are consumed in Belarus, but rye is more plentiful because conditions are too harsh for growing wheat.[409](../../409/ "tree and pragmatics") To show hospitality, a host traditionally presents an offering of [bread and salt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_salt) when greeting a guest or visitor.[\[294\]](../../page/5/#ref-294 "note 294")[410](../../410/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Sport See also: [Belarus at the Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus_at_the_Olympics) Belarus has competed in the Olympic Games since the [1994 Winter Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Winter_Olympics) as an independent nation.[411](../../411/ "tree and pragmatics") Receiving heavy sponsorship from the government, [ice hockey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey) is the nation's second most popular sport after [football](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football).[412](../../412/ "tree and pragmatics") The [national football team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus_national_football_team) has never qualified for a major tournament; however, [BATE Borisov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_BATE_Borisov) has played in the [Champions League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League).[413](../../413/ "tree and pragmatics") The [national hockey team](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus_national_men%27s_ice_hockey_team) finished fourth at the [2002 Salt Lake City Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_2002_Winter_Olympics) following an upset win over Sweden in the quarterfinals and regularly competes in the [World Championships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Hockey_World_Championships), often making the quarterfinals.[414](../../414/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarusian players are present in the [Kontinental Hockey League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontinental_Hockey_League) in Eurasia, particularly for Belarusian club [HC Dinamo Minsk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HC_Dinamo_Minsk), and several have played in the [National Hockey League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Hockey_League) in North America.[415](../../415/ "tree and pragmatics") The [2014 IIHF World Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_IIHF_World_Championship) was hosted in Belarus and the [2021 IIHF World Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_IIHF_World_Championship) was supposed to be co-hosted in Latvia and Belarus, but was cancelled due to widespread protests and security concerns.[416](../../416/ "tree and pragmatics") The [2021 UEC European Track Championships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_UEC_European_Track_Championships) in cycling was also cancelled because Belarus was not considered a safe host.[417](../../417/ "tree and pragmatics") [Darya Domracheva](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darya_Domracheva) is a leading [biathlete](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biathlon) whose honours include three gold medals at the [2014 Winter Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Winter_Olympics).[\[295\]](../../page/5/#ref-295 "note 295")[418](../../418/ "tree and pragmatics") [Tennis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis) player [Victoria Azarenka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Azarenka) became the first Belarusian to win a [Grand Slam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Slam_%28tennis%29) singles title at the [Australian Open](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Open) in 2012.[\[296\]](../../page/5/#ref-296 "note 296")[419](../../419/ "tree and pragmatics") She won the gold medal in mixed doubles at the [2012 Summer Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics) with [Max Mirnyi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Mirnyi), who holds ten Grand Slam titles in [doubles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singles_tennis).[420](../../420/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus, either by itself or via the Soviet programme, has produced a number of highly-accomplished [gymnasts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artistic_gymnastics) such as triple Olympic champion (1972) [Olga Korbut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Korbut), double Olympic champion (1988) and 1989 World All-Around Champion [Svetlana Boguinskaya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana_Boguinskaya), two-time World All-Around Champion (1994, 1997) [Ivan Ivankov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Ivankov), and most notably, 6-time Olympic Champion (1992) [Vitaly Scherbo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitaly_Scherbo) who holds a very special place in gymnastics history.[421](../../421/ "tree and pragmatics") As of at least as recently as after the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Scherbo is the only male gymnast in the 100+ year history of the [World Championships](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artistic_Gymnastics_World_Championships) to be a World Champion on all 8 events.[\[297\]](../../page/5/#ref-297 "note 297")[422](../../422/ "tree and pragmatics") Other notable Belarusian sportspeople include cyclist [Vasil Kiryienka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasil_Kiryienka), who won the [2015 Road World Time Trial Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_UCI_Road_World_Championships_–_Men%27s_time_trial), and middle-distance runner [Maryna Arzamasava](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryna_Arzamasava), who won the gold medal in the [800m at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_World_Championships_in_Athletics_–_Women%27s_800_metres).[423](../../423/ "tree and pragmatics") [Andrei Arlovski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Arlovski), who was born in [Babruysk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babruysk), [Byelorussian SSR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byelorussian_Soviet_Socialist_Republic), is a current [UFC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship) fighter and the former [UFC heavyweight champion of the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UFC_champions).[424](../../424/ "tree and pragmatics") [Aryna Sabalenka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryna_Sabalenka) is a noted women's tennis player, currently (Nov 2025) world No. 1.[425](../../425/ "tree and pragmatics") Belarus is known for its strong rhythmic gymnasts.[426](../../426/ "tree and pragmatics") Gymnasts include [Inna Zhukova](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inna_Zhukova), who earned silver at the [2008 Beijing Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Beijing_Olympics), [Liubov Charkashyna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liubov_Charkashyna), who earned bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, and [Melitina Staniouta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melitina_Staniouta), Bronze All-Around Medalist of the 2015 World Championships.[427](../../427/ "tree and pragmatics") The Belarusian senior group earned bronze at the [2012 London Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_London_Olympics).[428](../../428/ "tree and pragmatics") ### World Heritage Sites Belarus has four [UNESCO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO)-designated [World Heritage Sites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site): the [Mir Castle Complex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mir_Castle_Complex), the [Nesvizh Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nesvizh_Castle), the [Belovezhskaya Pushcha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Białowieża_Forest) (shared with [Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland) [corpus](../../../Poland/ "in our corpus")), and the [Struve Geodetic Arc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Struve_Geodetic_Arc) (shared with nine other countries).[\[298\]](../../page/5/#ref-298 "note 298")[429](../../429/ "tree and pragmatics") ## See also [List of Belarus-related topics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Belarus-related_topics) [Outline of Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Belarus) ## Bibliography - Birgerson, Susanne Michele (2002). "[430](../../430/ "tree and pragmatics") After the Breakup of a Multi-Ethnic Empire".[431](../../431/ "tree and pragmatics") Praeger/Greenwood.[432](../../432/ "tree and pragmatics") - Minahan, James (1998). "[433](../../433/ "tree and pragmatics") [Miniature Empires: A Historical Dictionary of the Newly Independent States](https://books.google.com/books?id=RSxt-JB-PDkC&q=White+Rus&pg=PA35)".[434](../../434/ "tree and pragmatics") Greenwood.[435](../../435/ "tree and pragmatics") - Olson, James Stuart; Pappas, Lee Brigance; Pappas, Nicholas C. J. (1994). "[436](../../436/ "tree and pragmatics") Ethnohistorical Dictionary of the Russian and Soviet Empires".[437](../../437/ "tree and pragmatics") Greenwood Press.[438](../../438/ "tree and pragmatics") - Plokhy, Serhii (2001). "[439](../../439/ "tree and pragmatics") [The Cossacks and Religion in Early Modern Ukraine](https://books.google.com/books?id=NCzzxNisc1MC&q=white+rus+commonwealth&pg=PA327)".[440](../../440/ "tree and pragmatics") Oxford University Press.[441](../../441/ "tree and pragmatics") - Richmond, Yale (1995). "[442](../../442/ "tree and pragmatics") [From Da to Yes: Understanding the East Europeans](https://books.google.com/books?id=2Y8GNIp42ysC&q=Byelorussia+name&pg=PA260)".[443](../../443/ "tree and pragmatics") Intercultural Press.[444](../../444/ "tree and pragmatics") - Vauchez, André; Dobson, Richard Barrie; Lapidge, Michael (2001). "[445](../../445/ "tree and pragmatics") [Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages](https://books.google.com/books?id=qtgotOF0MKQC&q=White+Ruthenia&pg=PA163)".[446](../../446/ "tree and pragmatics") Routledge.[447](../../447/ "tree and pragmatics") - Zaprudnik, Jan (1993). "[448](../../448/ "tree and pragmatics") [Belarus: At a Crossroads in History](https://books.google.com/books?id=qtnTh3-2Ki8C&q=Belarusia+name&pg=PA1)".[449](../../449/ "tree and pragmatics") Westview Press.[450](../../450/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Further reading Main article: [Bibliography of the history of Belarus and Byelorussia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliography_of_the_history_of_Belarus_and_Byelorussia) See also: [List of Slavic studies journals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Slavic_studies_journals) Bennett, Brian M. *The Last Dictatorship in Europe: Belarus under Lukashenko* (Columbia University Press, 2011) Frear, Matthew. *Belarus Under Lukashenka: Adaptive Authoritarianism* (Routledge, 2015) Korosteleva, Elena A. (June 2016). ["The European Union and Belarus: Democracy Promotion by Technocratic Means?"](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13510347.2015.1005009) *Democratization* **23**: 4 pp. 678–698. . Levy, Patricia; Spilling, Michael (2009). "[Belarus](https://books.google.com/books?id=KTwkKhg1BbsC&q=Belarusian+name&pg=PA95)". Benchmark Books. Kropotkin, Peter Alexeivitch; Bealby, John Thomas. Marples, David. **Our Glorious Past': Lukashenka's Belarus and the Great Patriotic War *(Columbia University Press, 2014) Parker, Stewart. *The Last Soviet Republic: Alexander Lukashenko's Belarus* (Trafford Publishing, 2007) Rudling, Pers Anders. *The Rise and Fall of Belarusian Nationalism, 1906–1931* (University of Pittsburgh Press; 2014) 436 pages Ryder, Andrew (1998). "[Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States](https://books.google.com/books?id=qmN95fFocsMC&q=Belarus+name+law+1991&pg=PA183)". Routledge. Silitski, Vitali; Jan Zaprudnik (2010). "[The A to Z of Belarus](https://books.google.com/books?id=bQXyAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1)". Scarecrow Press. Snyder, Timothy (2004). [*The Reconstruction of Nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569–1999*](https://books.google.com/books?id=xSpEynLxJ1MC) Szporluk, Roman (2000). "[Russia, Ukraine, and the Breakup of the Soviet Union](https://books.google.com/books?id=oLWeUoWEAGgC&q=Belorussia&pg=PA113)". Hoover Institution Press. Treadgold, Donald; Ellison, Herbert J. (1999). "[Twentieth Century Russia](https://books.google.com/books?id=Xs8sYy1vIS0C&q=belorussia+nationalists+name&pg=PA230)". Westview Press. Vakar, Nicholas Platonovich. *Belorussia: The Making of a Nation: A Case Study* (Harvard UP, 1956). Vakar, Nicholas Platonovich. *A Bibliographical Guide to Belorussia* (Harvard UP, 1956) ## External links [Website of the Republic of Belarus](http://www.belarus.by/en/) by [BelTA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BelTA) news agency [FAO Country Profiles: Belarus](http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index.asp?lang=en&iso3=BLR&subj=1&paia=) [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/) … [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Belarus/page/4/) **5** ## References {#references} 1\. "[Constitution of the Republic of Belarus](https://law.by/databank-business/constitution-of-the-republic-of-belarus/)". 2\. "[Belarus in figures 2021](https://www.belstat.gov.by/upload/iblock/b49/b49a6306ec95b5c2d851e897490581a3.pdf)". National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. 2021. 3\. John R. Short (25 August 2021). "Geopolitics: Making Sense of a Changing World". Rowman & Littlefield.; [Constitution of Belarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Belarus), 106, 97.5 97.7. 4\. "[Belarus leader Lukashenko holds secret inauguration amid continuing protests](https://www.france24.com/en/20200923-belarus-leader-lukashenko-holds-secret-inauguration-amid-continuing-protests)". *france24.com*. 23 September 2020. 5\. "[Belarus: Mass protests after Lukashenko secretly sworn in](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54262953)". *BBC News*. 23 September 2020. 6\. Some countries, especially Western nations, [do not recognise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_reactions_to_the_2020_Belarusian_presidential_election_and_protests) Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus since the [2020 Belarusian presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Belarusian_presidential_election). However, he continues to have *[de facto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto)* control over Belarus, being supported by [Russia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia) and [China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China) and by suppressing internal opposition.\[4\]\[5\] 7\. 2023. 8\. "[Population at the beginning of 2025](https://www.belstat.gov.by/upload/iblock/e1d/fw6q0hxkv3wmuqsqthztn49vpszatpj5.pdf)". *belstat.gov.by*. 9\. "[World Economic Outlook](https://data.imf.org/en/Data-Explorer?datasetUrn=IMF.RES:WEO%289.0.0%29)". *IMF.org*. [International Monetary Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund). 10\. "[GINI index (World Bank estimate) – Belarus](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=BY)". World Bank. 11\. "[Human Development Report 2025](https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2025reporten.pdf)". [United Nations Development Programme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Development_Programme). 6 May 2025. 12\. "[Time Zone & Clock Changes in Minsk, Belarus](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zone/belarus/minsk)". timeanddate.com. 13\. "[Icann Адобрыла Заяўку Беларусі На Дэлегаванне Дамена Першага Ўзроўню З Падтрымкай Алфавітаў Нацыянальных Моў.Бел](http://cctld.by/be/history/bel/)". 14\. /ˌbɛləˈruːs/ *BEL-ə-ROOSS*, /USalsoˌbiːləˈruːs/ *BEE-lə-ROOSS*, /UKalsoˈbɛlərʌs,\_-rʊs/ *BEL-ə-ru(u)ss*; *Беларусь*, bʲɛlaˈrusʲ; *Беларусь*, bʲɪlɐˈrusʲ; alternatively and formerly known as **Byelorussia** (from Russian Белоруссия), a name [often proscribed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ru:Именование_белорусского_государства_на_русском_языке) within Belarus, although commonly used in Russia. 15\. *Рэспубліка Беларусь*, rɛsˈpublʲika bʲɛlaˈrusʲ; *Республика Беларусь*, rʲɪsˈpublʲɪkə bʲɪlɐˈrusʲ. 16\. Minahan 1998, p. 35. 17\. Zaprudnik 1993, p. 2 18\. Jucho, Jazep (1956). "be:Аб паходжанні назваў Белая і Чорная Русь" \[About the Origins of the Names of White and Black Ruthenia\]. 19\. "[Why Is Belarus called White Russia](https://belarus-travel.com/theconcept-of-whiterussia/)". *Belarus Travel*. 5 April 2016. 20\. Vauchez, Dobson, Lapidge 2001, p. 163 21\. Bely, Alies (2000). "The chronicle of the White Russia: an essay on the history of one geographical name". Encyclopedix. 22\. Plokhy 2001, p. 327 23\. Roeder, Philip G. (2011). "[Where Nation-States Come From: Institutional Change in the Age of Nationalism](https://books.google.com/books?id=XAItI5C_JPUC&q=Belorussia+Russian+Empire&pg=PA116)". Princeton University Press. 24\. Fishman, Joshua; Garcia, Ofelia (2011). "[Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity: The Success-Failure Continuum in Language and Ethnic Identity Efforts](https://books.google.com/books?id=oUydX_3rG0AC&q=Belorussia+name&pg=PA385)". Oxford University Press. 25\. Richmond 1995, p. 260 26\. Ioffe, Grigory (2008). "[Understanding Belarus and How Western Foreign Policy Misses the Mark](https://books.google.com/books?id=00B6wxgftH8C&q=west+belarus&pg=PA150)". Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 27\. "[Law of the Republic of Belarus – About the name of the Republic of Belarus](http://pravo.kulichki.com/zak/year1991/doc47159.htm)". Pravo – Law of the Republic of Belarus. 19 September 1991. 28\. 2007. 29\. Боровой, Артур (26 February 2014). "["Беларусь" vs "Белоруссия": ставим точку в вопросе](https://people.onliner.by/2014/02/26/bel-17)". *Onliner*. 30\. "['Gudija' ar 'Baltarusija'?](http://www.vlkk.lt/konsultacijos/4292-gudija-baltarusija)". *State Commission of the Lithuanian Language*. 31\. "[Lithuania Refuses to Call Belarus as 'Belarusia'](https://telegraf.by/arhiv/lithuania_refuses_to_call_belarus_as_belarusia/)". *Telegraf.by*. 16 April 2010. 32\. Dziarnovič, Aleh (2013). "[Gudas as a Historical Name of Belarusians in the Lithuanian Language: 'Goths' or 'Barbarians'?](http://pawet.net/library/history/bel_history/dziarnovich/51/Gudas_as_a_Historical_Name_of_Belarusians_in_the_Lithuanian_Language:_%E2%80%98Goths%E2%80%99_or_%E2%80%98Barbarians%E2%80%99.html)". *Belarus and its Neighbors: Historical Perceptions and Political Constructs. International Conference Papers*. Uczelnia Łazarskiego. 33\. Shaw, Ian; Jameson, Robert (2008). "[A Dictionary of Archaeology](https://books.google.com/books?id=8HKDtlPuM2oC&pg=PA203)". Wiley. 34\. Zaprudnik 1993, p. 7 35\. John Haywood, *Historical Atlas, Ancient and Classical World* (1998). 36\. Plokhy, Serhii (2006). "The Origins of the Slavic Nations". [Cambridge University Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_University_Press). 37\. Robinson, Charles Henry (1917). "[The Conversion of Europe](https://archive.org/details/conversioneurop00robigoog)". Longmans, Green. 38\. NN (1914). "[The chronicle of Novgorod, 1016–1471](https://archive.org/details/chronicleofnovgo00michrich)". London, Offices of the society. 39\. Ermalovich, Mikola (1991). "[Pa sliadakh adnago mifa (Tracing one Myth)](http://www.books-by-isbn.com/5-343/5343008763-Pa-sliadakh-adnaho-mifa-M-Ermalovich-5-343-00876-3.html)". Minsk: Navuka i tekhnika. 40\. Zaprudnik 1993, p. 27 41\. Lerski, George Jan; [Aleksander Gieysztor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksander_Gieysztor) (1996). "Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945". [Greenwood Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwood_Press). 42\. Nowak, Andrzej (1 January 1997). "[The Russo-Polish Historical Confrontation](http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~sarmatia/197/Nowak.html)". *Sarmatian Review XVII*. [Rice University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University). 43\. Rowell, S.C. (2005). "The New Cambridge Medieval History (Vol. 6)". Cambridge University Press. 44\. Lukowski, Jerzy; Zawadzki, Hubert (2001). "A Concise History of Poland". Cambridge University Press. 45\. Riasanovsky, Nicholas V. (1999). "[A History of Russia](https://books.google.com/books?id=KRjcXHliMpcC&pg=PA137)". Oxford University Press. 46\. ["Belarusian": UCLA Language Materials Project](http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?LangID=103&menu=00) , ucla.edu; accessed 4 March 2016. 47\. Scheuch, E.K.; David Sciulli (2000). "Societies, Corporations and the Nation State". Brill. 48\. Birgerson 2002, p. 101 49\. Olson, Pappas, Pappas 1994, p. 95 50\. [Воссоединение униатов и исторические судьбы Белорусского народа](http://www.pravoslavie.ru/arhiv/050513111111) (*Vossoyedineniye uniatov i istoričeskiye sud'bi Belorusskogo naroda*), [Pravoslavie portal](http://www.pravoslavie.ru/) 51\. Żytko, *Russian policy ...*, p. 551. 52\. Иван Петрович Корнилов (1908). "[ru:Русское дєло в Сєверо-Западном крає: материиалы для историии Виленскаго учебнаго округа преимущественно в Муравьевскую эпоху](https://books.google.com/books?id=edsGAAAAYAAJ)". Тип. А.С. Суворина. 53\. D. Marples (1996). "[Belarus: From Soviet Rule to Nuclear Catastrophe](https://books.google.com/books?id=evVZCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA26)". Palgrave Macmillan UK. 54\. Birgerson 2002, p. 105–106 55\. Ioffe, Grigory (2008). "[Understanding Belarus and How Western Foreign Policy Misses the Mark](https://books.google.com/books?id=00B6wxgftH8C&q=west+belarus&pg=PA150)". Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. 56\. Timothy Snyder (2002). "[The Reconstruction of Nations](https://books.google.com/books?id=QJhMhTKw-vgC&q=belarus+partition&pg=PA282)". Yale University Press. 57\. "[Europe's Last Dictatorship Is Opposed by the Oldest Exiled Government in the World](https://www.vice.com/en/article/belarus-government-in-exile-290/)". 26 January 2016. 58\. Vitali Silitski, Jr.; Jan Zaprudnik (7 April 2010). "[The A to Z of Belarus](https://books.google.com/books?id=bQXyAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA308)". Scarecrow Press. 59\. Rauch, Georg von (1974). "[The Baltic States: Years of Independence – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 1917–40](https://books.google.com/books?id=emBIdi4LPz8C&pg=PA101)". C. Hurst & Co. 60\. Żeligowski, Lucjan (1943). "[Zapomniane prawdy](http://history-belarus.by/images/img-figures/zeligowski/Zeligowski_Zapomnianae-prawdy.pdf)". F. Mildner & Sons. 61\. Ioffe, Grigorij Viktorovič; Silitski, Vitali (2018). "Historical dictionary of Belarus". Rowman & Littlefield. 62\. Marples, David (1999). "[Belarus: A Denationalized Nation](https://books.google.com/books?id=EMCYfOSaLSgC&q=Belarusian+People%27s+Republic&pg=PA8)". Routledge. 63\. "[Belarus history](http://www.belarus.by/en/about-belarus/history)". Official website of the Republic of Belarus. 64\. Sorge, Arndt (2005). "The global and the local: understanding the dialectics of business systems". [Oxford University Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_University_Press). 65\. Nick Baron; Peter Gatrell (2004). "[Homelands](https://books.google.com/books?id=FCBVPqAWuUsC&pg=PA19)". Anthem Press. 66\. [Norman Davies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Davies), *[God's Playground](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God%27s_Playground)* (Polish edition), second tome, pp. 512–513 67\. "[Stosunki polsko-białoruskie pod okupacją sowiecką (1939–1941)](http://www.bialorus.pl/index.php?secId=49&docId=60&&Rozdzial=historia)" \[Polish–Belarusian relations under Soviet occupation (1939–1941)\]. 68\. Mironowicz, Eugeniusz (2007). "[Belarusians and Ukrainians in the policies of the Piłsudski camp](http://kamunikat.org/usie_knihi.html?pubid=2006)" \[Białorusini i Ukraińcy w polityce obozu piłsudczykowskiego\]. Wydawn. Uniwersyteckie Trans Humana. 69\. Bieder, H. (2000): Konfession, Ethnie und Sprache in Weißrußland im 20. Jahrhundert. In: Zeitschrift für Slawistik 45 (2000), 200–214. 70\. Lubachko, Ivan (1972). "Belorussia under Soviet Rule, 1917–1957". University Press of Kentucky. 71\. Abdelal, Rawi (2001). "[National purpose in the world economy: post-Soviet states in comparative perspective](https://books.google.com/books?id=o85YDMTeMrUC&q=reunification+of+western+belarus)". [Cornell University Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornell_University_Press). 72\. Taylor & Francis Group (2004). "[Europa World Year, Book 1](https://books.google.com/books?id=wGA4o-UhAfgC&q=reunification+of+western+belarus&pg=PA713)". [Europa publications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Routledge). 73\. Клоков В. Я. Великий освободительный поход Красной Армии. (Освобождение Западной Украины и Западной Белоруссии).-Воронеж, 1940.; Минаев В. Западная Белоруссия и Западная Украина под гнетом панской Польши.—М., 1939.; Трайнин И.Национальное и социальное освобождение Западной Украины и Западной Белоруссии.—М., 1939.—80 с.; Гiсторыя Беларусі. Том пяты.—Мінск, 2006.—с. 449–474 74\. Andrew Wilson (2011). "[Belarus: The Last European Dictatorship](https://books.google.com/books?id=jZJntMQtkSYC&q=Belarus+map+1945&pg=PA106)". Yale University Press. 75\. [Snyder, Timothy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Snyder) (2010). *[Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin](https://books.google.com/books?id=ks0WBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA160)*. Basic Books. p. 160. ISBN 0-465-00239-0 76\. (German) Dallin, Alexander (1958). *Deutsche Herrschaft in Russland, 1941–1945: Eine Studie über Besatzungspolitik*, pp. 234–236. Droste Verlag GmbH, Düsseldorf. 77\. Exeler, Franziska (2016). "[What Did You Do during the War?: Personal Responses to the Aftermath of Nazi Occupation](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309756528)". *Kritika: Explorations in Russian and Eurasian History*. 78\. Ioffe, Grigory (6 February 2015). "[The Partisan Movements in Belarus During World War II (Part Two)](https://jamestown.org/program/the-partisan-movements-in-belarus-during-world-war-ii-part-two/)". *[Jamestown Foundation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamestown_Foundation)*. 79\. Chernyshova, Natalya (15 June 2022). "[Belarus](https://soviethistory.msu.edu/1973-2/belarus/)". *Seventeen Moments in Soviet History*. 80\. Ioffe, Grigory (December 2003). "Understanding Belarus: Belarusian Identity". *Europe-Asia Studies*. 81\. Axell, Albert (2002). "[Russia's Heroes, 1941–45](https://archive.org/details/russiasheroes19400albe/page/247)". Carroll & Graf Publishers. 82\. Andrew Wilson (2011). "[Belarus: The Last European Dictatorship](https://books.google.com/books?id=jZJntMQtkSYC&q=Belarus%20map%201945&pg=PA110)". Yale University Press. 83\. Fedor, Helen (1995). "[Belarus – Stalin and Russification](http://countrystudies.us/belarus/11.htm)". *Belarus: A Country Study*. [Library of Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress). 84\. "[Потери гражданского населения](https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=10335986@cmsArticle)". *function.mil.ru*. 85\. Wilson, Andrew (2011). "Belarus: The Last European Dictatorship". Yale University Press. 86\. Fedor, Helen (1995). "[Belarus- Perestroika](http://countrystudies.us/belarus/12.htm)". *Belarus: A Country Study*. [Library of Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress). 87\. "[Belarus: Five things you may not know about the country](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53727243)". *BBC News*. 11 August 2020. 88\. "[Post-Soviet Belarus: A Timeline](https://www.rferl.org/a/1066125.html)". *rferl.org*. 24 February 2006. 89\. "[Belarus profile – Timeline](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17941637)". *BBC News*. 20 August 2018. 90\. Fedor, Helen (1995). "[Belarus – Prelude to Independence](http://countrystudies.us/belarus/39.htm)". *Belarus: A Country Study*. [Library of Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress). 91\. "[History, Belarus](https://www.belarus.by/en/about-belarus/history)". *Belarus.by*. 92\. 2016. 93\. "Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States 1997". Europa Publications Limited. November 1996. 94\. [Profile: Europe's last dictator?](https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/116265.stm) BBC News, 10 September 2001 95\. Andrew E. Kramer (11 May 2011). "[Belarus Economic Crisis Deepens as Currency Plunges](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/world/europe/12belarus.html)". *The New York Times*. 96\. "[Security Council Press Statement on Minsk Bombing \| Meetings Coverage and Press Releases](https://www.un.org/press/en/2011/sc10225.doc.htm)". *www.un.org*. 97\. "[Belarus's Protests Aren't Particularly Anti-Putin](https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/19/belarus-protest-not-anti-russian-putin-interfere/)". *Foreign Policy*. 19 August 2020. 98\. "[Protests in Belarus continue despite challenger's departure](https://apnews.com/dc7ec04bfb73782a094c18ed4e63feaa)". *Associated Press*. 11 August 2020. 99\. "[Belarus asks Lithuania to extradite opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya](https://www.euronews.com/2021/03/05/belarus-asks-lithuania-to-extradite-opposition-leader-tsikhanouskaya)". Euronews. 5 March 2021. 100\. "[Lithuania to Belarus: 'Rather watch hell freeze over' than deliver Tsikhanouskaya](https://www.dw.com/en/lithuania-to-belarus-rather-watch-hell-freeze-over-than-deliver-tsikhanouskaya/a-56787250)". Deutsche Welle. 101\. "[Headquarters of Tsikhanouskaya, Coordination Council and National Anti-Crisis Management](https://www.voiceofbelarus.com/headquarters-of-tsikhanouskaya/)". Voice of Belarus. 7 January 2021. 102\. "[Belarus protests: Why Poland is backing the opposition](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54090389)". *BBC News*. 10 September 2020. 103\. "[Belarus opposition leader: Foreign mediation may be needed](https://apnews.com/c70e47ca9c2c3526324c89982c1bac26)". *Associated Press*. 9 September 2020. 104\. "[El Pais interview with HR/VP Borrell: "Lukashenko is like Maduro. We do not recognize him but we must deal with him"](https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/84346/el-pais-interview-hrvp-borrell-%E2%80%9Clukashenko-maduro-we-do-not-recognize-him-he-must-deal-him%E2%80%9D_en)". eeas.europa.eu. 24 August 2020. 105\. Dave Lawler, ["U.S. no longer recognizes Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus"](https://www.axios.com/us-lukashenko-president-belarus-353ed235-98f7-446f-919a-6a6cdab81975.html) , *Axios*. 24 September 2020. 106\. 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