Independence Year : 1991
Population : 10236000
Life Expectancy : 68.0
Capital : 3520
GNP : 13714.00
GNP Old : 0.00
Local Name : Belarus
Government Form : Republic
Location : Eastern Europe
Terrain : Landlocked, generally flat with thick forests, much marshland and fields.
Climate : Cold winters, cool and moist summers, transitional between continental and maritime
Ethnic Group : Belarusian (81%), Russian (11%), Polish, Ukrainian, other (8%).
Religions : Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Protestant, Autocephalous Orthodox, Jewish, and Muslim) 20%.
Official Website :
www.president.gov.by/
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General Information - Belarus
Background
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 1995 as the country's first president, Alexander LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means. The Constitution revision by national referendum of 24 November 1996 gave presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996, revised again 17 October 2004 removing presidential term limits.
Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion continue.
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