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World > Europe > Belarus
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Belarus |
Introduction:
After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his election in July 1994 as the country's first president, Alexandr LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion continue.
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Official name: |
Republic of Belarus |
Capital: |
name: Minsk geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October |
Government type: |
republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship |
Population: |
9,724,723 (July 2007 est.) |
Languages: |
Belarusian, Russian, other |
Official Currency: |
Belarusian Rouble (BYR)
Current Belarusian Rouble Exchange Rates Historical Belarusian Rouble Exchange Rates Chart Belarusian Rouble Exchange Rates |
Currency code: |
BYR |
Area: |
total: 207,600 sq km land: 207,600 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Climate: |
cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime |
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Map of Belarus
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