Belarusian Statehood

Belarusian Statehood and Laws

VI-VIII cc. Pre-Statehood
o 6th-7th centuries: Penetration of Slavs into the territory of future Belarus, already settled by Baltic tribes.
o 8th-9th centuries: Massive settlements of East Slavic tribes (Kryvichans, Drehovichans, and Radsimichans) on the territory of Belarus and their assimilation of Balts (see the story of Yatviahs).

IX-XII cc. Early Belarusian Principalities.- Polacak, Turau
o 862: First mention of Polacak - a capital of Polacak Principality - Belarusian historical and spiritual beginning.
o 980: First mention of the city Turau - a capital of the powerful Turau principality.
o 1044-1066: Erection in Polacak of St. Sophia Cathedral to match similar buildings in Novgorod and Kiev, as a symbol of independent power

XIII-XVI cc. Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Samojitia and and Rus' - Belarusian Renaissance
o 1240-1263: Rule of Mindouh (Mindaugas), who consolidates east Lithuanian and west Belarusian territories into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a capital in Navahradak 13th-16th centuries. Belarusian lands flourish in the heart of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Samojitia and and Rus'.
o 1529, 1566,1588 - Three editions of Statute - the Belarusian State Law Code - were published among first European constitutions and Law Codes.
o 1581: Establishment of the Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Samojitia and and Rus' - the Supreme State Court.

1569 - 1772. Commonwealth of Poland. and Lithuania
o 1569: A forced by Russian pressure from the East political union of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Rus' and Samogitia with Poland establishes the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania - Rzhecz Pospilita Polsko-Litewska.
o 1654-1667: War of the Commonwealth with Russia; loss of Smalensk to Muscovy. Close to half of Belarusians perish defending their lands from Russian-Ukrainian invasion.

1772 - 1917. Part of Russian Empire. Kosciuszko and Kalinouski Uprisings.
o 1772, 1793, 1795: Three partitions of the Polish Commonwealth among Russia, Prussia, and Austria. All of Belarus is incorporated into the Russian Empire, with the exception of a small northwestern corner, taken by Prussia. 1776: Most Belarusian cities and towns are deprived of their Magdeburg
Statutes of self-government. 1789: Onset of French Revolution. American Constitution adopted.
o 1794: Anti-Russian uprising led by Tadevush Kasciushka (Thaddeus Kosciusko).
o 1863-1864: Massive anti-tsarist uprising in Poland, Belarus, and Lithuania led in Belarus by Kastus Kalinouski

1918-1920 Belarusan Democratic Republic
o 1917: In March, the Russian Revolution causes Tsar Nicholas II to abdicate. In November, Lenin's Bolsheviks seize power. In December, the First All-Belarusan Congress in Minsk proclaims a republican government in Belarus and is disbanded by Bolsheviks
o 1918: On March 9, the Executive Committee of the Council of the First All-Belarusian Congress
declares a Belarusan Democratic Republic.

1920-1939. Byelorussian SSR. Partition of Belarus Between the USSR and Poland
o 1919-1921: The Russo-Polish War results in the partitioning of Belarus between the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic and Poland
o 1921-1939 - Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) is established with its capital in Minsk. The short renaissance of Belarusian culture in 1920-1928 is choked by Stalin's executions and mass deportations to Siberia of 1930-ies. Polish secret police is prosecuting Belarusian political organizations in Western Belarus occupied by Poles.

1939. Re-Union of Western and Eastern Belarus
o September 1939 - Poland is divided between Nazi Germany and USSR according to Ribbentrop-Molotov secrect pact
o September 17, 1939 - Red Army moves into Western Belarus and joins it with Eastern Belarus - Byelorussian Socialist Republic.
o October 10, 1939 - Moscow transfers Belarusian cultural capital Vilnia from Byelorussian SSR to Lithuanian SSR.

1941-1944. Nazi Government of Belarus.
o June 21, 1941 - July 13, 1944. Nazi occupation of Belarus. A collaborationist government is created as a result of the II All-Belarusian Congress.

1945-1991. Post WWII Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
o 1945: On April 25, delegates from Belarus and Ukraine are invited to the San Francisco Conference. Recognized for their role in the war effort, both countries become members of the United Nations
o 1944-1991. Post-WWII Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) is restored from ruins with the help of other Republics. BSSR grows into modern industrialized state.

1991-present. Republic of Belarus - a Sovereign State
o August 25, 1991. Belarus declares independence
o December 8, 1991 USSR seize to exist.

See more detailed Belarusian Historic Timeline in our History Page.

size=2 width="100%" align=center>

Belarusian Constitution

This is a full text of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus adopted on March 1, 1994. After 2 year in power Mr. Lukashenka has created a President post for himself in a new text of 1996 constitution by way of widely contested as rigged and un-democratic "National Referendum" of 1996. You can compare the texts of two constitutions here

Belarusian state anthem, symbol and flag

There is a confusion with the symbols since national referendum on May 14, 1995. By enormous majority (~77%) Belarusians readopted the old soviet flag of Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic and its symbol. I can only explain this outrageous act by the fact that Belarusan nationalist movement is following too extreme course for the most of Belarusians. Belarusians don't like extremes at all. Unfortunately the historical significance of the "Pahonia" symbol and white-red-white flag as Belarusian national symbols is now strongly overweighed by their political meaning as the symbols of extremist political party of national opposition. It is because of this strong political association that these symbols were rejected by majority of Belarusians on May 14, 1995. One other circumstance is that both white-red-white flag and "Pahonia" symbols were used by the collaborationist government established in Belarus by nazi during WWII occupation (read also a different opinion on this) and by Belarusian Democratic Republic established in Belarus during the WWI German occupation. This resulted in the negative attitude towards our historical symbols. There is very little knowledge of our true history in Belarus and of the historical value of "Pahonia" and white-red-white flag. The history of Belarus studied by the books of officially allowed Russian or Polish historians was very distorted. All of these authors, surprisingly including even soviet historians, were trying to hide to certain degree the fact of existence of Belarusian culture, our rich historical heritage, Belarusian people as a nation and, of course, our national symbols. Thus very few Belarusians, even with University degrees, know the true history of Belarus and its symbols.

National Anthem of Belarus
The anthem that was used before in a Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic sounds very ironic today when the national movement fights against the President's course on dissolution of Belarus in Russia - " We are Belarusians. We are searching our ways to happiness together with our brothers in Russia..." etc. The old soviet melody still remains a national anthem whereas the old words are rejected. The Janka Kupala poem "Young Belarus" was selected as the text of a new Belarusian national anthem whereas a melody is still not adopted. A complete melody of current Belarusian anthem in wav format is saved as a zipped file (~2Mb) here.

National Symbol of Belarus
Our national symbol "Pahonia" or in English -"Chase"- is the same for Belarus and Lithuania since it comes from the days when Belarusians and Lithuanians were unified in one big commonwealth of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Rus'. It shows a horseman with a raised sword advancing on an enemy. You can read our special pages about the history of "Pahonia" symbol and its establishment as a national emblem of Belarus. Find out more about "Pahonia" symbol from the Lithuanian server

National Flag of Belarus
Correct me if I'm wrong but as for our national flag I've heard a following story: During one of the battles with German knights (Grunwald) a white bandage with a stripe of a blood stain across its center was used as a victorious banner. Since that time our flag is white-red-white. But this is a legend. Historically White-Red-white flag first appeared as the national flag of Belarus in Belarusan Democratic Republic (1918-1920.

The current official symbols of the Republic of Belarus

and

· See also these information on Belarusian symbols and flags by Flags Of The World website

Passport of the citizen of the Republic of Belarus
Belarusian passport is another symbol of Belarusian independence. Few of them have been issued. I personally still have ex-USSR passport with Belarusian "Pahonia" seal in it to symbolize that I am Belarusian citizen. In 1991-1994 Belarusian passports were issued with "Pahonia" symbol. They were later replaced by the passports with Soviet "cabbage". Lukashenka did not hesitated to spent our tax money to strip us of our national symbols everywhere.

Belarusian Laws and Legal System

· History of Belarusian Law: Statutes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

The Statutes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were a great achievement of Belarusan Law. They were written during the 16th century and are among first European constitutions and Law codes. They have served later as an etalon to other European nations. The Statutes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania are considered to be one of the main treasures (in addition to Lithuanian Metrics) of Belarusan, Lithuanian, and Polish culture.

· National Legal Internet Portal of the Republic of Belarus

· Constitution of the Republic of Belarus - original 1994 text and text with 1996 and 2004 ammendments,

· Short comparison of some paragraphs from the Constitution of Republic of Belarus (1994) and the Constitution (1996) by President of Belarus A. Lukashenka

· Belarusian Law page run by the U.S. House of Representatives Internet Law Library.

· Current violations of legal system, observed in Belarus - numerous human rights violations, persecution of NGOs and opposition, state sponsored dissapearings/executions of political opponents are TBD. Recently, a Parliamentary group of Deputies "Republic" went on hunger strike demanding strengthening election laws. The head of the group General Fralou has expressed his outrage with wide spread legal and judicial violations in Belarus by state judges and prosecutors, serving Lukashenka regime's hasty justice.

· Special legislation collection of Belarusian law for businessmen

The Governmental Policy towards Belarusian Language - interesting developments concerning native language of the majority of Belarusians

Links related to Belarusian Statehood

Belarusian Constitution, Enactment Law and Declaration of Independence presented in The International Constitutional Law (ICL) Homepage at Cornell University.

Literature on the Belarusian Statehood

Ref. 1. "Belarusian Statehood. Reader and Bibliography", Ed.: Vitaut Kipel and Zora Kipel, Byelorussian Institute of Arts and Sciences, New York, 1988. Library of Congress Card #88-70081.

Ref. 2. Jan Zaprudnik, "Belarus: At a Crossroads in History," Westview Press (now part of Harper Collins),
1993, ISBN: 0-8133-1794-0 (pbk.)
You can order the book @ Harper Collinsr: 1-800-822-4090; fax: 1-800-242-7737; http://www.harpercollins.com/

Ref. 3. Zina Gimpelevich, "Two Interviews with Vasil Bykaû", In: Zapisy Vol. 23, published by Belarusian Institute of Arts and Sciences, New York-1999.

This file is a part of the Virtual Guide to Belarus - a collaborative project of Belarusian scientists and professionals abroad. VG brings you the most extensive compilation of the information about Belarus on the Web.
Please send your comments to the authors of VG to Belarus

VG to Belarus
Disclaimer