Belarus - Country Profile

Population: 9.6 million (UN, 2009)
Capital: Minsk
Area: 207,595 sq km (80,153 sq miles)
Major language: Russian, Belarussian (both official)
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 63 years (men), 75 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Belarussian rouble = 100 kopeks
Main exports: Machinery, chemical and petroleum products
GNI per capita: US $5,380 (World Bank, 2008)
Internet domain: .by
International dialling code: +375 

The present borders of Belarus were established during the crisis of World War II. The former republic was by the Nazis in 1941-1944 than 2.2 million people, including occupied most of its Jewish population lost. There are about 400,000 ethnic Poles in the West. He ruled with an iron fist since 1994, increasing by President Alexander Lukashenko. Opposition figures are subject to strict penalties for the organization of events. Beginning of 2005 Belarus was approved by the U.S. as Europe remained the only listed "outposts of tyranny." 

 

Since late 2008, there were signs of a slight easing of tensions with the West - the first development with some concern to Russia, which has since begun to distance themselves Lukashenko considered rule. The staff of the country was independent in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. About a decade later, the sense of national identity is weak, remains the international isolation and the nature of political relations with Russia remains a key issue. 

 

Within a year after the war and the Soviet Union, Belarus has become one of the most prosperous regions of the USSR, but with independence came economic decline. President Lukashenko has much the privatization of state enterprises over. Private companies are virtually nonexistent. Foreign investors stay away. For much of his career, Mr. Lukashenko has sought to develop closer relations with Russia. On the political front, there was talk of union, but suggested little tangible evidence of progress, and certainly not the same as the union of President Lukashenko. 

 

Belarus remains heavily dependent on Russia's own energy needs and meet a considerable part of Russian oil and gas exports to Europe passes through. The role of Russia as an important supplier of energy for the rest of the position of Belarus and Europe were a key transit country both honor several times since 2006, when the tension broke out between Moscow and Minsk, the Russian gas prices and privileged access of the Belarusian oil-free service. Relations with Russia have deteriorated in the summer of 2010 to settle disputes over energy prices, the customs union of Belarus and the terms of the presence of ousted Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, following which speculation is that Moscow changed Lukashenko support another candidate for the leadership.
  

President: Alexander Lukashenko