The "State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus" (, "Dzjaržawny himn Respubliki Bjelarusj"), better known as "My Bjelarusy" (Belarusian and ; "We Belarusians"), is the national anthem of Belarus. It was originally written in the 1940s and adopted in 1955 for use in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The music of the Byelorussian SSR's regional anthem was composed by Niescier Sakałoŭski and the lyrics were written by Michas Klimkovič. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the music composed by Sakalowski was kept and the lyrics were discarded. New lyrics, which were written by Klimkovič and Uladzimir Karyzny, were adopted by a presidential decree issued on 2 July 2002.
Introduction
My Belarusy
My Belarusy | Introduction
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what is 'my belarusy'?
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It is the national anthem of Belarus.
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who composed it?
user
Sakalowski
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when was it adopted?
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1955
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can you extract any one line from this?
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The lyrics now speak of a friendly Belarus, honoring past military battles and looking forward to the future.
My Belarusy | Introduction
"My Biełarusy" was originally used as the anthem of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic starting from 24 February 1955. The original anthem was composed by Sakałoŭski and the lyrics were written by Maxim Klimkovich. It was presented in front of a jury in 1944, but it took 11 years of modifications before it was officially adopted. When Belarus became an independent country, the national anthem was modified to drop the Communist-era lyrics. An attempt was made in 1995 to adopt Natallia Arsiennieva's poem "O God Almighty" as the national anthem, but the suggestion was not acted on even though it was supported by a parliamentary committee.
My Belarusy | Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR
The "State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus" (, "Dzjaržawny himn Respubliki Bjelarusj"), better known as "My Bjelarusy" (Belarusian and ; "We Belarusians"), is the national anthem of Belarus. It was originally written in the 1940s and adopted in 1955 for use in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The music of the Byelorussian SSR's regional anthem was composed by Niescier Sakałoŭski and the lyrics were written by Michas Klimkovič. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the music composed by Sakalowski was kept and the lyrics were discarded. New lyrics, which were written by Klimkovič and Uladzimir Karyzny, were adopted by a presidential decree issued on 2 July 2002.
My Belarusy | Introduction
The motto comes from the rebel movement of 1863-1864. Belarusian poet Yanka Kupala ended his poem "This is a cry that Belarus lives" from 1905—1907 with this phrase. In December 1917 the First All-Belarusian Congress took place with a flag with the inscription "Long Live the Free Belarus!".
Long Live Belarus! | History
The decree's main objective was to establish lyrics for the anthem and introduce musical notation along with the new lyrics. Moreover, the decree designated when, where, and how the anthem was to be performed. According to the newspaper "Soviet Byelorussia", President Lukashenko decided on the anthem on 12 June 2002 and chose to have its first performance on 3 July—Belarusian independence day, the anniversary of the date in 1944 when the Wehrmacht was driven away from Minsk by the Red Army. However, the first performance actually took place on 2 July at a concert organized by the government as part of the Belarusian independence festivities.
My Belarusy | Anthem of the Republic of Belarus
Belarus adopted its first temporary constitution several months after declaring independence from the Russian Empire, on October 11, 1918. In 1919, after the occupation of the country by the Russian Bolsheviks, Belarus became a Soviet Republic (USSR), and a new constitution was adopted. Belarus continued to use this constitution until it – along with Russia, Ukraine, and the Transcaucasus – signed a treaty to form the Soviet Union. Now the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (Byelorussian SSR), the country adopted its first Soviet-era constitution in 1927, complementing the recently adopted Soviet Constitution. After a re-adoption in 1937, the Byelorussian SSR adopted its last Soviet-era constitution in 1978, mainly to reflect changes made in the 1977 Soviet Constitution.
Constitution of Belarus | In the 20th century
The organization Freedom House commented on the adoption of the anthem in a report about the country, published in 2003. On page 125 of the "Country Report of Belarus", Freedom House says that President Lukashenko has "reintroduced the state symbols used by the old Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 2002, the president approved a streamlined version of the Soviet-era anthem "My Belarusy" ("We Belarusians"), as the country's new national anthem." The report also mentioned President Lukashenko's ban of the symbols that were used since Belarus's independence in 1991, such as the Pahonia arms and the white, red, white flag, which Lukashenko claims are associated with fascism (because the pro-Nazi Belarusian Central Rada in World War II used these symbols).
My Belarusy | Reaction
The first citizenship act after the Belarusian declaration of independence was adopted on 18 October 1991. The Citizenship Act (1991) has not declared succession of citizenship of the Byelorussian SSR. Citizens of the USSR who had permanently resided in Belarus were recognized by the Act as citizens of the Republic of Belarus. Belarusian citizenship could be acquired:
Belarusian citizenship | Belarusian citizenship from 1991 to 2002
The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus (, ) is the ultimate law of Belarus. Adopted in 1994, three years after the country declared its independence from the Soviet Union, this formal document establishes the framework of the Belarusian state and government and enumerates the rights and freedoms of its citizens. The Constitution was drafted by the Supreme Soviet of Belarus, the former legislative body of the country, and was improved upon by citizens and legal experts. The contents of the Constitution include the preamble, nine sections, and 146 articles. The structure and substance of the Constitution were heavily influenced by constitutions of Western powers and by Belarus' experiences during the Soviet era.
Constitution of Belarus | Introduction
When Lukashenko issued his decree selecting a new national anthem, only slight changes were made to the Soviet-era hymn. While the references to Russia, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Vladimir Lenin were replaced; the overall theme of "friendship of peoples" and the original music composed by Sakałoŭski were preserved. The government decided to keep Sakałoŭski's music in order to maintain historical continuity, and also on account of its popularity and musical quality. After the national anthem was adopted, the process of adopting national symbols was completed.
My Belarusy | Anthem of the Republic of Belarus
Since the original adoption of the Constitution in 1994, it has been amended twice; once in 1996 and once in 2004.
Constitution of Belarus | Section Eight: The Application of the Constitution
This resolution was outlawed and replaced by Law N 288-З on May 18, 2004.
Hero of Belarus | Legislation
When Belarus became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991, the Supreme Council of Belarus passed the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic, proclaiming Byelorussian SSR acts legal priority over USSR ones (per article 7 of the Declaration, but this provision was inserted into 1978 Constitution only in August 1991) and formally starting a constitutional process in Republic. Soon afterwards, the government established a Constitution Commission to facilitate the adoption of a post-Soviet constitution. In November 1991, the commission sent the first of three drafts to the Supreme Council. Upon approval from the Supreme Council, the first draft was published in December 1991 in order for the Belarusian populace to make comments and suggestions.
Constitution of Belarus | Modern constitution
The official policy of Belarusization was instituted in 1924 by the Central Executive Committee of the BSSR by creation of a special commission headed by A. I. Khatskevich. The special commission recommended the following measures: The transition of Belarusian republic's institutions to the Belarusian language was planned to take place over a period of one to three years.
Belarusization | Plan for Belarusization
All policies of korenization were radically reversed with the onset of Stalinism and Soviet government's promotion of Russian language as the sole state language and the required .
Belarusization | Introduction
While much of the Constitution establishes the government's functions and powers, an entire section details rights and freedoms granted to citizens and residents. The Constitution has been amended twice since the original adoption, in 1996 and in 2004. Two referendums that were disputed by independent observers and government opposition leaders increased the power of the presidency over the government and eliminated the term limits for the presidency.
Constitution of Belarus | Introduction
For Belarus! ("За Беларусь!" in both Russian and Belarusian) was a campaign slogan used in Belarus starting in 2004 to push for constitutional alterations inside the country, which consisted of (1) enabling a citizen to become the country's president for more than two times (as had been the case until 2004) and (2) to allow the current president Alexander Lukashenko to run for a third term. The campaign was usually announced and spread by using television airtime, public concerts or billboards erected in the country. The campaign was used again in the 2006 presidential elections, with the addition of a song played on Belarusian Television on the day of the elections.
For Belarus! | Introduction
A national constitution was adopted in March 1994 in which the functions of prime minister were given to the President of Belarus.
Belarus | Independence
In the aftermath of the 1917 Russian Revolution, different states arose competing for legitimacy amidst the Civil War, ultimately ending in the rise of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (Byelorussian SSR) which became a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922. Belarus lost almost half of its territory to Poland after the Polish–Soviet War (1919–1921). Much of the borders of Belarus took their modern shape in 1939, when some lands of the Second Polish Republic were reintegrated into it after the Soviet invasion of Poland, and were finalized after World War II. During WWII, military operations devastated Belarus, which lost about a quarter of its population and half of its economic resources.
Belarus | Introduction
The commission submitted the third and final draft to the Supreme Council, where it was signed on March 15, 1994 by the Speaker of the Supreme Council and Head of State, Myechyslaw Hryb. The gazette "Zvezda" officially published the Constitution fifteen days later. The Supreme Soviet passed a second law along with the Constitution, titled the Enactment Law, rendering the 1978 Byelorussian SSR Constitution and the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic void, with a few exceptions. The law, passed during the thirteenth session of the Supreme Soviet, also provided transitional phases for office holders and government organs to form within two years.
Constitution of Belarus | Modern constitution
It is similar to the State of the Union given by the President of the United States.
State of the Nation Address (Belarus) | Introduction
This article describes the history of Belarus. The Belarusian ethnos is traced at least as far in time as other East Slavs. After an initial period of independent feudal consolidation, Belarusian lands were incorporated into the Kingdom of Lithuania, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and later in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire and eventually the Soviet Union. Belarus became an independent country in 1991 after declaring itself free from the Soviet Union.
History of Belarus | Introduction
Announcements on registration and extension of the evacuation until June 1946 were posted in Białystok and within the Voivodship.
Belarus–Poland border | History
The flag dimensions were also formally established as 1:2 for the first time. This flag remained in use until the adoption of the 1951 flag, which did away with the letters.
Flag of Belarus | 1919–1951
The only legal mention of a national anthem in Belarusian law before 2002 was in the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus. Section One, Article 19 of the constitution states that "The symbols of the Republic of Belarus as a sovereign state shall be its national flag, national emblem and national anthem." While the constitution only mentioned the use of the flag, national anthem, and arms as state symbols, each symbol had to be defined by law. A law specifying a national anthem was not enacted until Presidential Decree 350 took effect on 18 July 2002, the day before Belarus's independence day.
My Belarusy | Anthem of the Republic of Belarus
The song's title was later translated from Belarusian to English for the Eurovision Song Contest and was titled "Story of My Life".
Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 | Introduction
Myechyslaw Ivanavich Hryb (, , , born on 25 September 1938) was the eleventh Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus from 28 January 1994 to 10 January 1996. In his capacity as the head of state, Hryb adopted the first Constitution of Belarus. He succeeded Stanislav Shushkevich and was head of state from 28 January to 20 July 1994 until Alexander Lukashenko replaced him in the new office called President of Belarus, which became the new head of state office. He continued as a parliamentary speaker. Hryb is now a politician in the opposition and a member of the Social-Democratic Party.
Myechyslaw Hryb | Introduction
According to the "Code of Marriage, family and guardianship" of Belarusian SSR promulgated in 1927:
Belarusian citizenship | Belarusian citizenship from 1917 to 1991
The ninth and last section of the Constitution was added following passage of the 1996 revision of Constitution and addresses laws passed before 1996. If the laws that were passed before the adoption of the Constitution are not in conflict with the Constitution, they are still enforced. All changes to the Constitution come into effect when formally issued by the president, unless specified otherwise. With the passage of the 1996 revision of the Constitution, the 1994 law "On the Procedure Governing the Entry into Force of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus" ceased to be enforced. As a transitional measure, Section Nine states that the present (as of November 1996) leadership of Belarus can continue to serve until their term of service has been completed.
Constitution of Belarus | Section Nine: Final and Transitional Clauses
Liberals and nationalist reformers used this period of political confusion to advance their cause. On September 18, the parliament dismissed its chairman, Mikalay Dzyemyantsyey, for siding with the coup and replaced him with his deputy, Stanislav Shushkevich. The next day, pressed by the small but vocal democratic opposition, the parliament changed the state's name from the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic to the Republic of Belarus.
Politics of Belarus | Independence from the USSR
The first attempt to establish a sovereign Belarusian state in modern history came in early 1918 with the declaration of independence of the Belarusian Democratic Republic. The short-lived state was destroyed by the Soviet invasion in 1919. The Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic exists as a government in exile since then. The Bolsheviks created a puppet Soviet government of Belarus in Smolensk. In 1924, the Soviet Socialist Republic of Belarus joined the USSR together with Soviet-controlled Russia, Ukraine and Transcaucasia.
Politics of Belarus | Independence from the Russian Empire
The opposition to the Jews was finally crystallized and found definite expression in the repressive Lithuanian statute of 1566, when the nobles of Belarus and Lithuania were first allowed to take part in the national legislation. Paragraph Twelve of this statute contains the following articles:
History of the Jews in Belarus | The Act of 1566
The republic was redeveloped in the post-war years. In 1945, the Byelorussian SSR became a founding member of the United Nations, along with the Soviet Union and the Ukrainian SSR. The parliament of the republic proclaimed the sovereignty of Belarus on 1990, and during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus declared independence on 1991. In 2000, Belarus and Russia signed a treaty for greater cooperation, forming the Union State. Alexander Lukashenko has served as the country's first president since 1994. Belarus has been labeled "Europe's last dictatorship" by some Western journalists, on account of the country's poor human rights record and Lukashenko's self-described authoritarian style of government.
Belarus | Introduction
However, on 12 March 2011 the song was withdrawn, after it was discovered that it had been performed in public in the summer of 2010, and was replaced with the new song "I Love Belarus".
Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 | Internal selection
Since the early 1930s, the Polish government introduced a set of policies designed to Polonize all minorities (Belarusians, Ukrainians, Jews, etc.). The usage of Belarusian language was discouraged and the Belarusian schools were facing severe financial problems. In spring of 1939, there already was neither single Belarusian official organisation in Poland nor a single exclusively Belarusian school (with only 44 schools teaching Belarusian language left).
History of Belarus | Belarusian Soviet Republic and West Belarus
The Warsaw Pact was not established until 1955, several years after Hitler's death. The song was written in D minor.
Defecate on My Face | Song
After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Belarusization came into full effect, with Belarusian becoming the only state language, and children started receiving education in Belarusian. However, after the accession to power of Aleksandr Lukashenko, in 1995 a referendum was held on Russian language, most people voting for Russian to become the second state language in Belarus. After a while, the use of Belarusian has dwindled, and in today's Belarus, Russian is dominant in everyday life.
Belarusization | Post-Soviet era
This event was Belarus' declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. On 25 August 1991, after the August events in Moscow, the Byelorussian SSR gave the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Republic constitutional status. On 19 September 1991, the Permanent Representative of the Byelorussian SSR Hienadz Buraukin informed the office of the Secretary General of the United Nations that the country would officially henceforth be known simply as "Belarus".
Independence Day (Belarus) | History
"Mahutny Boža", a religious hymn, is also actively used by those who oppose the Lukashenko Government. A favourite in the anthem competition was the poem called "Young Belarus" ("Маладая Беларусь") by Janka Kupala. However, the poem was never set to a musical composition so "Young Belarus" could not be selected as the anthem.
My Belarusy | Other songs
The work proceeded until May 18, 1950, when the text was finally ready and approved by the Council of Ministers. The next day, the Committee on Science, Art and Culture announced a contest for the creation of a melody. On December 30, 1950, the Presidium of the National Assembly issued Decree No. 688, which came into force on January 1, 1951, which affirmed the song as the new anthem of the People's Republic of Bulgaria. The lyrics of the 1951 anthem closely resembled the State Anthem of the Soviet Union, and is entirely written according to the canons of Stalin's times.
Balgariyo mila | History
The Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was a formal document issued by the Supreme Soviet of Belarus to assert its independence from the Soviet Union. Passed on July 27, 1990, the Declaration started the process of Belarus' eventual independence on August 25, 1991. Until 1996, July 27th was celebrated as Independence Day in Belarus. It effectively renamed the Byelorussian SSR to the Republic of Belarus and established the basis for all state symbols, such as the National flag and coat of arms, the national anthem, and the national colors. It also defined the national currency, military, and language.
Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic | Introduction
The only symbol that hasn't changed over during independence is the national anthem. Adopted during the Soviet era, "My Belarusy" was used provisionally until 2002. The only change that occurred was dropping the Soviet-era lyrics and choosing just to use the music, composed by Nyestar Sakalowski. On July 2, 2002, President Lukashenko issued a decree adopting new lyrics to the anthem, written by Uladzimir Karyzny. Klimkovich also wrote the lyrics to the Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR. Not only the lyrics were chosen, a protocol guide related to the national anthem was released by Lukashenko. The reason that was given for keeping Sakalowski's music was to keep the historic traditions of the country.
National symbols of Belarus | National anthem
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991 the Belarusian language law remained in force, and a Belarusization policy was initiated which aimed at linguistic Belarusization of the most important areas of public life within ten years. Particular attention was drawn to the educational system. This policy, however, was rejected by large parts of the society, and this prompted Alexander Lukashenko to take up the issue of allegedly "forceful Belarusization" in his first presidential campaign in 1994. After being elected, in 1995 Lukashenko initiated a controversial referendum in which according to official data 88.3% of the participants supported an equal status for the Russian and Belarusian language.
Languages of Belarus | Development since the collapse of the Soviet Union
Belarus used the postage stamps of the Soviet Union from 1917 to 1991. In 1991 Belarus became an independent nation and began its own postal administration in 1992.
Postage stamps and postal history of Belarus | Introduction
After independence, Belarus adopted the Pahonia as the national coat of arms. This changed under the presidency of Alexander Lukashenko after a controversial 1995 referendum in which the basic Soviet design was reintroduced with the outline map of Belarus replacing the hammer and sickle.
Emblem of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic | History
The Border Committee was created by decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus on September 20, 1991. To manage the border units and subunits, the General Directorate of the Border Troops ( was established by order of the Supreme Soviet on January 15, 1992 under the Council of Ministers. To create a legal basis for their activities, the Supreme Council adopted Law No. 1908-XII “On the State Border of the Republic of Belarus”, and Law No. 1911-XII “On the Border Troops of the Republic of Belarus” on November 4-5, 1992. On August 19, 1993, a law was adopted by the Council of Ministers decree on the official creation of the Border Troops of Belarus.
State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus | History
"Vajacki Marš" ("March of the Warriors") was the official anthem of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, a Belarusian state that was created in 1918 but lasted only 10 months, during World War I. Since 1919, the song has been used as an anthem of Belarus by Belarusian emigrant communities in Western Europe and North America. It is still considered the official anthem used by the government-in-exile of the Belarusian Democratic Republic.
My Belarusy | Vajacki marš
But it still exist in Belarus.
Job by distribution | Introduction
The national emblem of Belarus was adopted in 1995 following a controversial referendum. It is reminiscent of that of the Byelorussian SSR and replaced the coat of arms of 1991-1995 which followed the traditional heraldic style. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan retained components of their respective republics for similar reasons.
Socialist heraldry | Present
School, established in the year 1939 at the time of British rule.
Gakhirkhowa para | Introduction
The legitimacy of the reform of grammar in 1933 was never adopted by certain political groups in West Belarus, unlike, e.g., KPZB, neither by the emigrants, who left Belarus after 1944. This rejection was made an issue of ideology, and presented as anti-Russification. One of the most vocal critics was Jan Stankievič, beginning with his 1936 publication. However, rejecting all post-1933 official developments, the community was left with all the problems of the pre-1933 grammar virtually unaddressed and effectively with no unified grammar to use. After the 1930s Taraškievica was primarily used by the Belarusian diaspora abroad. The only wide-scale use of the pre-1933 grammar on the territory of Belarus after the 1930s took place during the German occupation of Belarus in 1941–1944.
Taraškievica | After 1933
They must answer to us why they provided their territory for national border violation. If there is anyone who won't find it funny, it is Lithuania".
Teddybear Airdrop Minsk 2012 | Subsequent government actions
In 2003, Dr. Taras Kuzio wrote in Radio Free Europe that President Lukashenko "is the quintessential Soviet Belarusian patriot who presides over a regime steeped in Soviet nostalgia." Kuzio said that the motives of Russia and Belarus in re-adopting Soviet-era symbols are part of restoring that nostalgia.
My Belarusy | Reaction
After Lukashenko assumed the presidency in 1994, he stated his intention to amend the recently passed Constitution. The amendments, according to Lukashenko, would expand the power of his office, marking a turning point in post-Soviet era politics in Belarus. A May 1995 national referendum was the first step in the amendment process. Out of the four questions, one asked if the president could disband parliament if the members violate national law. The vote, which several Supreme Soviet deputies protested, resulted in 77% in favor of the provision regarding the dismissal of the legislature by the president. Other questions on the ballot, such as the national flag and national emblem, didn't affect the Constitution as a whole, but their status has been decided by the Constitution.
Constitution of Belarus | Amendments
The lyrics of the song were first published in 1919 in Minsk, in the newspaper, "Belarus". As the hymn of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, the song was approved in 1920, when the leaders of the republic were already in exile. During the Soviet occupation of Belarus, the March was banned. However, there were attempts to adapt the lyrics to the communist ideology by replacing mentions of the national Belarusian white-red-white flag with those of the Soviet red banner. Throughout the 20th century, the March was actively used by pro-independence organisations of the Belarusian diaspora. After the restoration of the independence of Belarus in 1991, there were propositions to make "Vajacki marš", as the national anthem of the Republic of Belarus once again.
Vajacki marš | History
Although Lukashenko and the Supreme Soviet had signed an agreement that the Soviet would have the final decision on whether to adopt the constitutional amendments, Lukashenko broke the agreement. After the constitution was promulgated a new House of Representatives was assembled, with only Lukashenko loyalists admitted. Around sixty members of the Supreme Soviet who rejected the new constitution continued to work in the Soviet, which was recognised as the legitimate parliament by the international community.
1996 Belarusian referendum | Aftermath
It was granted urban-type settlement status in 1961.
Serebryanye Prudy | Introduction
Long Live Belarus! ( ) is a Belarusian patriotic motto widely used by members of the Belarusian democratic and nationalist opposition, as well as members of the Belarusian diaspora. The motto is aimed at awakening the national civil sense, the consolidation of the Belarusian people for freedom and independence of their country, language, all the national culture.
Long Live Belarus! | Introduction
A seven-question referendum was held in Belarus on 24 November 1996. Four questions were put forward by President Alexander Lukashenko on changing the date of the country's independence day, amending the constitution, changing laws on the sale of land and the abolition of the death penalty. The Supreme Council put forward three questions on constitutional amendments by the Communist and Agrarian factions, local elections and the national finances. All of Lukashenko's proposals were approved, namely changing Belarus's national day, amending the constitution, and retaining the death penalty and a ban on land sales. Voter turnout was claimed to be 84.1%.
1996 Belarusian referendum | Introduction
The March 4, 1990, elections to the republic's Supreme Soviet gave the country a legislature that was little different from previous legislatures: only 10 percent of the deputies were members of the opposition. But for the most part, the populace seemed satisfied with the new deputies (see List of Members of the Belarusian Parliament, 1990–1995), and the Belarusian Popular Front's (BPF) calls for independence and efforts at nation-building failed to stir up the same strong emotions as movements in neighboring Ukraine and the Baltic States. Although the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic on July 27, 1990 (some two weeks after Russia had declared its own sovereignty), the March 1991 referendum held throughout the Soviet Union showed that 83 percent of Belarusians wanted to preserve the Soviet Union.
Politics of Belarus | Independence from the USSR
This song is based on a Kazakh patriotic song of the same name written in 1956 in response to the Soviet Virgin Lands program. There is debate over whether it was to celebrate the program or to insist Soviet authorities should not turn Kazakhstan into Russia's corn belt.
Meniŋ Qazaqstanym | Origins
Since 1991 it is a part of independent Belarus.
Lyachchyzy | Introduction
Regulations regarding Belarusian citizenship were issued by the Belarusian government from 1917-1991 and by the government of the Soviet Union from 1924-1991. The "Aliens Decree" was issued on 4 August 1922, by the Sovnarkom of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic. According to this decree, all subjects of the former Russian Empire who had permanent residence in the Byelorussian SSR, including refugees, were recognized as citizens of the Byelorussian SSR. Citizens of other Soviet Republics (such as the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic) shared common rights and obligations with citizens of the Byelorussian SSR. All adults (except in the cases listed below) could apply for Belarusian SSR citizenship, and the children younger than 14 years of age of those who were granted Belarusian SSR citizenship acquired Byelorussian SSR citizenship automatically; the consent of children over 14 was necessary.
Belarusian citizenship | Belarusian citizenship from 1917 to 1991
The channel was launched on 1 January 1956, as the Belarusian branch of the Soviet Central Television, after months of preparation. The first spoken words were Good evening! Happy New Year. Today, we start our test run. spoken by Tamara Bastun. Broadcasts were initially running for 2–3 hours every evening on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Belarus-1 | History
This flag remained in use until the adoption of the 1951 flag. In September 1991, the white-red-white flag was reintroduced as the new flag of the newly independent Belarus.
Flag of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic | Previous flags of the Soviet era
The flag of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was adopted by decree on 25 December 1951. The flag was slightly modified in 1956 when construction details were added for the red star and the golden hammer and sickle. The final specifications of the flag was set in Article 120 of the Constitution of the Byelorussian SSR and are very similar to the current Belarusian flag. The flag had a length-to-width ratio of one to two (1:2), just like the flag of the Soviet Union (and the other fourteen union republics). The main portion of the flag was red (representing the Revolution), with the rest being green (representing the Belarusian forests).
Flag of Belarus | 1951–1991
This was produced in July 1929 by Colonel Fritz Brasé, director of the Army band. This consisted only of the chorus, and was published under the title "The Soldier's Song" rather than "A Soldier's Song", although variants such as "the "Soldiers' Song"" continued to occur in later official documentation.
Amhrán na bhFiann | Official adoption
More calls for constitutional reform came in 1996. President Lukashenko unilaterally established the referendum after the Supreme Council refused to support the measures or set up a date for the vote. An earlier attempt by the Supreme Council to establish their own referendum in September 1996 was struck down as "inconsistent with the Constitution" by the Constitutional Court. The referendum amended the Constitution mostly to strengthen the power of the presidency. Amongst the changes made were the following: 1- The Supreme Council, the unicameral parliament of Belarus, was abolished. The Supreme Soviet was replaced by the National Assembly, a bicameral parliament; 2- The term of President Alexander Lukashenko was extended from 1999 until 2001.
Constitution of Belarus | 1996
The first line crossing Belarus was the Saint Petersburg–Warsaw Railway, which started operating in late 1862. This included section and railway station in Hrodna. During the mid 1860s, a railway line was also built from Daugavpils to Polatsk and further to Vitebsk. The Warsaw–Brest Railway, opened in 1866, completed to Moscow in 1871.
History of rail transport in Belarus | Introduction
The orthography of the Belarusian language was reformed in 1933 under Soviet rule.
Belarusian orthography reform of 1933 | Introduction
The Byelorussian SSR was one of only two Soviet republics to be separate members of the United Nations (the other being the Ukrainian SSR). Both republics and the Soviet Union joined the UN when the organization was founded in 1945.
Foreign relations of Belarus | Introduction
Russian and Soviet authorities conducted policies of Russification of Belarus from 1772 to 1991, interrupted by the Belarusization policy in the 1920s. With the gaining to the power of pro-Russian authoritarian Aliaksandar Lukashenka in 1994, the russification policy was renewed.
Russification | Belarus
The first line crossing the country was the Saint Petersburg–Warsaw Railway, which started operating in late 1862. This included section and railway station in Hrodna. During the mid-1860s, railway line was built also from Daugavpils to Polatsk and further to Vitebsk. Line Warsaw-Brest, opened in 1866, completed to Moscow in 1871.
Rail transport in Belarus | History
The 14 May 1995 Belarus Referendum required the population of Belarus to vote on four issues: The date of the referendum coincided with the date of the elections to the Parliament. On 11 April 1995, the Parliament considered the questions for the referendum, approved the date, but approved only the question regarding economic integration with Russia. Alexander Lukashenko declared that he would not change his decision and left the Parliament. 19 members of the Parliament from the Belarusian Popular Front decided to carry out a hunger strike within the Parliament building, protesting against the president organizing the referendum despite the parliament's decision.
Elections in Belarus | 1995 Referendum
On December 8, 2006, the United States House of Representatives passed, and (following Senate enactment) on January 12, 2007, President Bush signed into law, the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006, a statute amending and updating the act.
Foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration | Belarus
However, with the rise of Stalinism in the 1930s, and the concurrent return of the policies of forced Russification, Belarusization was quickly reversed, along with Ukrainization and all the other programs of korenization within the Soviet Union.
Belarusization | End of Belarusization
In the 18th century the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a federal entity consisting of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, faced a period of decline due to increasingly dysfunctional internal politics. In a belated attempt to rectify the situation, a constitution was adopted on May 3, 1791 – one of the oldest codified national constitutions in the world. The new constitution abolished the liberum veto and banned the szlachta's confederations, features that had crippled decision making the state. The constitution also provided for a separation of powers among legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, established "popular sovereignty" and extended political rights to the bourgeoisie.
Constitution of Belarus | Constitution of May 3, 1791
As of 15 July 1941 all Jews were ordered to wear a yellow badge on their outer garments under penalty of death, and on 20 July 1941 the creation of the Minsk Ghetto was pronounced. Within two years, it became the largest ghetto in German-occupied Soviet Union, with over 100,000 Jews. The southern part of the modern-day Belarus was annexed to the newly formed "Reichskommissariat Ukraine" on 17 July 1941 including the easternmost Gomel Region of the Russian SFSR, and several others. They became part of the "Shitomir Generalbezirk" centred around Zhytomyr. The Germans determined the identities of the Jews either through registration, or by issuing decrees.
The Holocaust in Byelorussia | Background
Żeligowski later in his memoir which was published in London in 1943 condemned the annexation of the Republic by Poland, as well as the policy of closing Belarusian schools and general disregard of Marshal Józef Piłsudski's confederation plans by Polish ally. Years earlier interrogation report of 19-year-old revolutionary Pilsudski of 10 March 1887 indicated that he called himself a "Belarusian nobleman". In 1919 a part of Belarus under Russian rule emerged as the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (Byelorussian SSR). Soon thereafter it merged to form the Lithuanian-Byelorussian SSR. The contested lands were divided between Poland and the Soviet Union after the war ended in 1921, and the Byelorussian SSR became a founding member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922.
Belarus | Early states and interwar period
All citizens previously living but also born in Poland would live in the Byelorussian SSR from then on, as the Soviet subjects, not Polish. However, the Soviet rule was short-lived because the corresponding terms of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact signed earlier in Moscow were broken when the German army crossed the Soviet occupation zone on 22 June 1941. From 1941 to 1943 the province was under the control of Nazi Germany, govern by the collaborationist Belarusian Central Council supported by the Nazi Belarusian battalions of the Home Defence.
Bronna Góra | Background
26 June 1945 was signed the Charter of the United Nations and came into force on 24 October 1945. The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was among the first countries that signed the United Nations Charter, becoming a founding member of the United Nations among 51 countries. Until 1958 the permanent mission of Byelorussia was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs rather than the permanent representative. Since Belarusine's independence in August 1991, membership in the United Nations is a priority of Belarusine's foreign policy.
Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations | History
The peasantry saw their rights increased but it fell short of abolishing serfdom, which was reconfirmed. Religious tolerance was preserved, although the status of the Catholic faith was recognized. Reciprocal Guarantee of Two Nations of October 22, 1791 accompanied the constitution, affirming the unity and indivisibility of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania within a single state and their equal representation in state-governing bodies.
Constitution of Belarus | Constitution of May 3, 1791
The agony of those children incorporated into the Imperial Russian Army was presented in Juliusz Słowacki's narrative poem "Anhelli". Several thousand children were taken towards Mińsk, Bobrujsk, into the depths of Russia, i.e. Siberia. Two-thirds of abducted children died on the journey between Warsaw and Bobrujsk. The rest were brought up as Russian soldiers.
Incorporation of Polish children into the Imperial Russian Army (1831-1832) | Introduction
With the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, all former Soviet republics faced a deep economic crisis. After the 1994 election of Alexander Lukashenko as the first President of Belarus, he launched the country on the path of "market socialism" (as opposed to what Lukashenko considered the "wild capitalism" chosen by Russia at that time). In keeping with this policy, administrative controls over prices and currency exchange-rates were introduced. Also the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprise expanded, but on March 4, 2008, the President issued a decree abolishing the golden-share rule in a clear move to improve Belarus's international rating regarding foreign investment.
Economy of Belarus | Introduction
Belarusization () was a policy of protection and advancement of the Belarusian language and recruitment and promotion of ethnic Belarusians (a type of affirmative action program) within the government of the Belarusian SSR (BSSR) and the Belarusian Communist Party, conducted by the government of the BSSR in the 1920s. Together with the 1920s policy of Ukrainization in the Ukrainian SSR, as well as other similar policies in other parts of the Soviet Union, it constituted the Soviet policy of korenization, an attempt by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to win favor with non-Russian ethnic groups by temporarily reversing the effects of centuries of forced Russification within the Russian Empire and promoting national cultures and languages in Soviet national republics.
Belarusization | Introduction
But according to a CIS election observation mission, the elections in Belarus conformed to international standards.
2008 Belarusian parliamentary election | Introduction
Then he stated the site was merely implementing recommendations, but did not state whose recommendations.
LGBT rights in Belarus | Free speech rights
However, the referendum, like its 1995 predecessor, was condemned by international organizations including the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as falling far short of democratic standards, while others described it as a further consolidation of Lukashenko's dictatorship.
1996 Belarusian referendum | Introduction
Acknowledging the lack of progress in relation to bilateral relations and the internal situation following the position adopted in 1997, the EU adopted a step-by-step approach in 1999, whereby sanctions would be gradually lifted upon fulfillment of the four benchmarks set by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. In 2000, some moderately positive developments toward the implementation of recommendations made by the OSCE AMG were observed but were not sufficient in the realm of access to fair and free elections.
Foreign relations of Belarus | Belarus–European Union relations
It was instituted in the 1950s.
Publiekrechtelijke Bedrijfsorganisatie | Introduction
Belarus was represented by Aleksandra & Konstantin and the song "My Galileo" in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.
Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 | Introduction
The Constitution of the Republic of Abkhazia () was adopted by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Abkhazia of the 12th convocation on 26 November 1994, and by the national referendum on October 3, 1999, with an amendment adopted by the national referendum on the same day. On the 15th anniversary of its adoption, a special meeting was held between the current convocation of the People's Assembly and many of the members who were present in 1994. Sergei Shamba reported that he had written down the exact time of adoption as 17:14.
Constitution of Abkhazia | Introduction
The incorporation of Western Belarus to the USSR radically affected the state of protection of the state border with Lithuania by parts of the Belarusian District. After the accession of Western Belarus to the BSSR on October 15, 1939, the border detachments of the People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD) of the BSSR was tasked to guard the Belarusian section of the border with Germany, and on June 21, 1940 also the Lithuanian border. The former Soviet-Polish border was not fully dismantled and existed up until the German attack on the Soviet Union. For internal security purposes, the servicemen of the Belarusian border district carried out security service on the “old border”, for the passage of which the population needed special passes.
Borders of Belarus | History
General Assembly adopted a resolution recommending the adoption and implementation of the Plan as the United Nations Resolution 181.
Ivan Samylovsky | The Palestine question 1944 – June 1947
The town was briefly taken by a small unit of Prussian troops during the later part of the First World War. Belarus first declared independence on 25 March 1918, forming the Democratic Republic of Belarus and later the Soviet Socialist Republic of Byelorussia. As a result, Krupki was incorporated into the Soviet Union after western Belarus and the border city of Brest were given to Poland and the eastern parts, along with the city of Minsk, joined the USSR, between the two world wars. Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. On 18 September 1941 the entire Jewish Ghetto, a community of 1,000 people were killed by the Nazis.
Krupki | World War I and World War II
Thousands of Poles settled in the area following the peace treaty. In the elections of November 1922, a Belarusian party (in the "Blok Mniejszości Narodowych" coalition) obtained 14 seats in the Polish parliament (11 of them in the lower chamber, Sejm). In 1923, a new regulation was passed allowing for the Belarusian language to be used officially both in courts and in schools. Obligatory teaching of the Belarusian language was introduced in all Polish gymnasia in areas inhabited by Belarusians in 1927. Across the border, in the Belarusian SSR, Minsk was home to Polish community organizations and a Polish-speaking national theatre of Belarus.
Poles in Belarus | History
The elections were designed to give the annexation an appearance of validity, but were far from free or fair. The voters had a choice of only one candidate, often a local communist or someone sent to western Belarus from Soviet Belarus for each position of deputy; the communist party commissars then provided the assembly with resolutions that would push through nationalization of banks and heavy industry and transfers of land to peasant communities. Elections took place on October 22, 1939; the official numbers reported participation of 93 percent of the electorate, 91 percent of whom supported the appointed candidates. Based on these results, the People's Assembly of Western Belarus voted unanimously to thank Stalin for liberation and sent a delegation to Moscow to ask for formal inclusion of the territories into the Belarusian SSR.
Soviet annexation of Western Belorussia | Annexation of eastern half of interwar Poland
Minsk was captured by German troops on 21 February 1918. World War I was the short period when Belarusian culture started to flourish. German administration allowed schools with Belarusian language, previously banned in Russia; a number of Belarusian schools were created until 1919 when they were banned again by the Polish military administration. At the end of World War I, when Belarus was still occupied by Germans, according to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the short-lived People's Republic of Belarus was pronounced on 25 March 1918, as part of the German Mitteleuropa plan. In December 1918, Mitteleuropa was obsolete as the German Empire withdrew from the Ober-Ost territory, and for the next few years in the newly created power vacuum the territories of Belarus would witness the struggle of various national and foreign factions.
History of Belarus | BNR and LBSSR
Just as in 2010, BTRC opened a submission period for interested artists and songwriters to submit their entries until 21 February 2010. There were no limitations regarding the nationality of the singers and songwriters taking part in the open selection. An expert panel then reviewed all the submissions, and the selected entry was chosen on 1 March 2011. On 28 February 2011, BTRC announced Anastasia Vinnikova as the Belarusian entrant at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with the song "Born in Byelorussia". However, on 3 March 2011, it was announced that the lyrics of the song would be changed, with the new title of the song to be "I Am Belarusian", as the song quoted memories from the Soviet Union period.
Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 | Internal selection
This proposal was adopted by major Taraškievica-using media, including the newspaper "Nasha Niva", Belarusian ARCHE magazine, the Belarusian editions of Radio Free Europe and Radio Polonia. As well, this variant of orthography became preferable for use in the Belarusian Wikipedia in Taraškievica orthography ().
Taraškievica | Today