History of Belarus (1991–present)

This article is about the history of Belarus after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union. For the history of Russia before 1991, see History of Belarus.

"Post-Soviet Belarus" redirects here. You may be looking for Belarus itself or for Politics of Belarus after dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Republic of Belarus Рэспубліка Беларусь
1991–present
Top: Flag (1991–95) Bottom: Flag (1995–) Top: Emblem (1991–95) Bottom: Coat of arms (1995–)
Anthem: Дзяржаўны гімн Рэспублікі Беларусь (Belarusian) Dziaržaŭny himn Respubliki Biełaruś "State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus"
Belarus in green.
Capital and largest city	Moscow 55°45′N37°37′E / 55.750°N 37.617°E / 55.750; 37.617
Official language and national language	Belarusian Russian (since 1995)
Ethnic groups (2019)	84.9% Belarusians 7.5% Russians 3.1% Poles 1.7% Ukrainians 2.8% other
Religion (2020) [1]	91.0% Christianity —83.3% Russian Orthodoxy —7.7% Other Christian 7.8% No religion 1.2% Others
Demonym	Belarusian
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic (1991–1994) Unitary semi-presidential republic (1994–) under an authoritarian dictatorship (1996–present)
Chairman of the Supreme Council/President
• 1991–1994	Stanislav Shushkevich
• 1994	Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (acting)
• 1994	Myechyslaw Hryb
• 1994–	Alexander Lukashenko [a]
Prime Minister
• 1991–1994	Vyacheslav Kebich (first)
• 2025–present	Alexander Turchin (current)
Legislature	Supreme Council (1991–1996) National Assembly (1996–present)
•  Upper house	Council of the Republic (1996–present)
•  Lower house	House of Representatives (1996–present)
Independence   from the Soviet Union
•  1990 Supreme Soviet election	March–May 1990
• BSSR sovereignty	27 July 1990
• Independence	25 August 1991
• Renamed	19 September 1991
•  Belavezha Accords USSR dissolves	8 December 1991 26 December 1991
•  Current constitution	15 March 1994
•  1994 presidential election	23 June – 10 July 1994
•  Lukashenko inaugurated	20 July 1994
•  1995 referendum	14 May 1995
•  1996 referendum	24 November 1996
•  Last constitutional referendum	27 February 2022
•  Belarusian partisan movement	9 August 2020 – present
Area
• Total	207,600 km2 (80,200 sq mi) [4]  (including swamps)
Population
• 2025 estimate	9,109,280 (excluding Crimea) [5] (98th)
• Density	43.9/km2 (113.7/sq mi)(130th)
GDP  (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	$221.186 billion(73rd)
• Per capita	$24,016(71st)
GDP  (nominal)	2023 estimate
• Total	$68.864 billion(74th)
• Per capita	$7,477(82nd)
Gini  (2019)	25.3 [6] low inequality (65th)
HDI  (2023)	0.824 [7] very high (52nd)
Currency	Belarusian ruble (₽) (BYN)
Time zone	UTC+3
Calling code	+7
ISO 3166 code	BY
Internet TLD	.by .бел
Preceded by Soviet Union Byelorussian SSR
Today part of	Belarus

The modern history of Belarus began with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The new Belarusian country struggled with many problems, including post-Soviet debt, nuclear arsenal, and inflation. These factors contributed to the current history of the Republic of Belarus, especially to the current leadership under Alexander Lukashenko, under whom the country's democracy backslided and later turning into a full authoritarian dictatorship.

Historical context

The lands of present-day Belarus have been part of many states over the centuries, including the Kievan Rus' (especially the Duchy of Polotsk, which is considered the predecessor of Belarusian statehood), the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, whose elites, despite being of Lithuanian origin, became ruthenized (or belarusianized), then the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which caused polinisation of the nobility and parts of burghers, the Russian Empire, which began russification (especially after November and January Uprisings, in which Belarusians fought alongside Poles and Lithuanians). Belarusian territory became a centre of the World War I, Polish-Soviet War, and World War II, during which Belarusians tries either to create their own state (which they briefly established in 1918-1919), collaborated with Poland, Soviet Union, or Nazi Germany. Ultimately, the USSR managed to incorporate it into its borders as a Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, ruled by the Communist Party of Byelorussia. The region experienced repression from the communist regime, especially in 1937-1938, 1940-1941, and from 1945 to mid-1950s.

Perestroika

The political changes in Belarus began in the era of Perestroika, a Soviet political reform movement promoted by the First Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. Censorship became relaxed, the new Soviet authorities freed political prisoners, and the cultural renewal together with the emerging opposition movements.

In 1988, archaeologist Zianon Pazniak discovered the bodies of people killed during the Stalinist Great Purge of 1937-1938. A year later, Pazniak created the Belarusian Popular Front, a pro-Perestroika organization that later became clearly anti-communist.

From March to May 1990, elections to the Supreme Soviet of Byelorussia took place. The opposition Belarusian Popular Front, led by Pazniak, won around 25–37 seats.

The Byelorussian Communist Party itself also experienced changes. On 27 July 1990, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic declared sovereignty, which was a part of the so-called "parade of sovereignties", in which many other Soviet republics, including Russian Soviet Federatice Socialist Republic, declared sovereignty from the Gorbachev's central authority. On 28 November 1990, Yefrem Sokolov was replaced by Anatoly Malofeyev on a position of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Byelorussia.

In April 1991, anti-government workers' strikes took place. In result, wages increased and trust in the Communist authorities has fallen.

Independence

During the August Coup in 1991, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic's branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union supported the putsch. However, once the coup failed, Chairman of the Supreme Council Nikolai Dementey (who was also first secretary of the Communist Party of Byelorussia) was forced to resign from his post, leading to the election of Stanislav Shushkevich, a scientist, who while a member of the CPSU, was not directly tied to the Apparats. Alongside this, he was known previously for his criticism of the Soviet government's disregard for the Chernobyl Disaster.

On August 25, 1991, the BSSR declared independence from the Soviet Union, becoming the Republic of Belarus. The White-red-white flag was re-adopted, alongside the Pahonia. The CPB was banned, alongside the larger Communist Party of the Soviet Union.^{[ citation needed ]}

This period of a flawed democracy was known for tensions between reformist social democrats under Shushkevich who wanted a slow but successful transition to capitalism, hardline post-communists, pro-Russian Prime Minister Vyacheslav Kebich, and nationalist opposition under Pazniak.

Belarus experienced inflation and a crisis involving nuclear weapons, which were transfered to Russia as a part of the deal for neutralization of Belarus.

A new constitution was adopted on 15 March 1994, leading to the end of the period between the BSSR and modern Belarus.

The first presidential election toook place on 23 June and 10 July.

Notes

1. Some countries, especially Western nations, do not recognise Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus since the 2020 Belarusian presidential election. However, he continues to have de facto control over Belarus, being supported by Russia and China and by suppressing internal opposition. ^{[2] [3]}

1. "Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe". Pew Research Center. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
2. "Belarus leader Lukashenko holds secret inauguration amid continuing protests". france24.com. 23 September 2020.
3. "Belarus: Mass protests after Lukashenko secretly sworn in". BBC News. 23 September 2020. Several EU countries and the US say they do not recognise Mr. Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus.
4. | area_rank = 85th | percent_water = 2.26% (4.700 km2 or 1.815 sq mi)
6. "GINI index (World Bank estimate) – Russian Federation". World Bank. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
7. "Human Development Report 2020" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2022.