Flag of Belarus
- Officially » Republic of Belarus
- Capital » Minsk
Facts
- Population » 9.5 million
- Less than 15 yo » 16.6%
- More than 65 yo » 14.7%
- Over 70% of the population resides in urban areas.
- Languages » Russian, Belarusian (both official)
- Russian is more widely spoken.
- Religion » Christianity
- Life expectancy » 69 years (men), 79 years (women)
- Currency » Belarussian rouble
Geography
- Area » 207,595 sq km (80,153 sq miles)
- Belarus is an Eastern European landlocked nation.
- It is bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest.
- More than 40% of the land area of Belarus is covered by forests.
Maps
Notes
- Belarus attained its independence from the USSR in 1991.
- The judicial system in Belarus lacks independence and is subject to political interference.
- Belarus is a politically troubled country and not friendly towards western tourists.
- Belarus still has a KGB-style secret police. (Wikipedia)
- Belarus and Russia have been close trading partners and diplomatic allies since the breakup of the Soviet Union.
- Belarus is dependent on Russia for imports of raw materials and for its export market.
- Criticism of the government is not tolerated, and this carries heavy penalties.
Climate
- Cold winters
- Cool and moist summers
Overland
- Only local residents are allowed to travel by land from Russia to Belarus.
- NOTE » When travelling from Belarus to Russia, there may be no proper border check. It has been reported that it is illegal to cross into one country from the other without going through a proper border control if you are not a Russian or Belarussian citizen. As of December 2018, there are rumours that Russia wants to open an international border crossing at the Minsk-Moscow highway in time for the European Games in June 21 to June 30, 2019.
Safety and Security
- Following the forced landing of a commercial Ryanair flight from Greece with the use of a fighter jet, and then the kidnapping of an opposition journalist, proper research and consideration should be carried out before deciding to travel to Belarus.
- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko via Wikipedia
Map of Belarus » Western governments advises against all travel to Belarus.
Government Travel Advice
- Western governments advises against all travel to Belarus. (as at May 2024)
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Resources
This page was updated May 27, 2024