Eastern Europe.

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

207,595 sq km (80,153 sq miles).

9 million (UN, 2005).

42.1 per sq km.

Minsk. Population: 1.7 million (2001).

Belarus is bordered by Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and the Russian Federation. It is covered largely by forests and lakes, which are rich in wildlife, and is crossed by major rivers such as the Dnieper.

The 1994 constitution, controversially amended in 1996, allows for legislative power to be held by a bicameral National Assembly (Verchovny Soviet). This comprises a 110-member House of Representatives directly elected for a four-year term and a 64-member Council of the Republic, of which eight members are presidential appointees and the remainder elected by local authorities. The President, who is directly elected for a five-year term, exercises executive power, assisted by a Council of Ministers answerable to the National Assembly.

Republic since 1991. Head of State: President Aleksandr Lukashenko since 1994, reelected in 2006. Head of Government: Prime Minister Sergey Sidorsky since 2003. Recent history: The 1994 constitution, controversially amended in 1996, allows for legislative power to be held by a bicameral National Assembly (Verchovny Soviet). This comprises a 110-member House of Representatives directly elected for a four-year term and a 64-member Council of the Republic, of which eight members are Presidential appointees and the remainder elected by local authorities. The President, who is directly elected for a five-year term, exercises executive power, assisted by a Council of Ministers answerable to the National Assembly.
The current leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenka, originally came to power at the 1994 Presidential election. An important element of his platform was a promise to end corruption. Unfortunately, Lukashenka’s rule became characterised by ever greater corruption, nepotism, censorship and arbitrary decision-making; it has since deteriorated further, with restrictions on religious and political assembly and, in the worst cases, the disappearance and death of prominent critics. In 1996, a dubious referendum had endorsed Lukashenka’s intention to extend both his powers and his term of office to 2001.
The Lukashenka Government’s conduct has completely undermined Belarus’ relations with the West, which it had initially sought to develop. Lukashenka is now looking to Moscow and especially the integration project, under which the two countries will become united at political and economic levels, adding to an already extensive set of bilateral agreements. However, the issue of Government corruption still taints Belarus. In early 2005, Belarus was listed by the USA as Europe's only remaining outpost of tyranny. The EU extended travel restrictions on senior officials and the USA imposed sanctions. Street protests throughout 2004 have highlighted that Belarusians wish to keep these complaints at the forefront of worldwide media.
The official results of a referendum in October 2004 showed almost unanimous support for the removal of the two-term limit on Lukashenka's rule. At Parliamentary elections held at the same time, official results also showed that opposition parties failed to win a single seat. Foreign observers claim that there was widespread corruption involved with both votes, and protests on the streets followed the elections.
Alexander Lukashenka was re-elected at the March 2006 Presidential elections with more than 82 per cent of the votes. Opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich said the result was a 'fraud' and international observers commented that the ballot 'did not meet the required international standards for free and fair elections'.

The official languages are Belarusian and Russian.

Christian, mainly Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic with small Protestant, Jewish and Muslim communities.

Handshaking is the usual form of greeting. Hospitality is part of the tradition and people are welcoming and friendly. Company or business gifts are well received. Smoking is acceptable unless stated otherwise.

220V, 50Hz. Adaptors are recommended.