Belarus
Belarus, 1991 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed
The parliament of the republic proclaimed the sovereignty of Belarus on 27 July 1990, and during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus gained independence on 25 August 1991. Following the adoption of a new constitution in 1994, Alexander Lukashenko was elected Belarus's first president in the country's first and only free election after independence, serving as president ever since. Lukashenko heads a highly centralised authoritarian government. Mass protests erupted across the country following the disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election, in which Lukashenko sought a sixth term in office.
Seat of power: Minsk
Rulers
Viačasław Kiebič
Prime Minister of Belarus, 1991–1994
Kebich was the first Prime Minister of Belarus, serving from 1991 until 1994. During his tenure in office he promoted a pro-Russia stance. Kebich was one of the drafters and signatories of the Belavezha Accords that effectively ended the Soviet Union and founded the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Portrait of Viačasław Kiebič: U. Ivanov / Ю. Иванов, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Alexander Lukashenka
President of Belarus, 1994 to today
Lukashenko has been the first and only president of Belarus since the office's establishment in 1994. In 1994, he won the presidency in the country's inaugural presidential election after the adoption of a new constitution. After a controversial 1995 referendum, Lukashenko acquired increased power, including the authority to dismiss the Supreme Council.
Portrait of Alexander Lukashenka: Пресс-служба Совета Федерации РФ, CC BY 4.0, file
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Culture
- Belarus's two official languages are Russian and Belarusian.
- The Belarusian government sponsors annual cultural festivals such as the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, which showcases Belarusian performers, artists, writers, musicians, and actors.
- The National Academic Theatre of Ballet in Minsk was awarded the Benois de la Dance Prize in 1996 as the top ballet company in the world.
- Independence Square was designed by Iosif Langbard and was created for conducting rallies and to serve as Minsk's main ceremonial venue during the Soviet times.
Picture
Independence Square is a square in Minsk, Belarus, and the National Assembly of Belarus and Minsk City Hall are on this square.
Image: Cédric Lafont, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.