Byelorussian SSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)

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Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка (Belarusian)
Белорусская Советская Социалистическая Республика (Russian)
Motto: "Пралетарыі ўсіх краін, яднайцеся!"
Anthem: State Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR
Location of Byelorussia
StatusConstituent republic of the Soviet Union[a]
Capital
and largest city
Minsk
Official languages
Recognised languages
Religion
(2022)
Demonym(s)
GovernmentUnitary Marxist-Leninist one-party soviet socialist republic
Vasily Novikov
Alexander Lukashenko
• Premier
Aleksey Sokol
LegislatureSupreme Soviet
Area
• Total
207,600 km2 (80,200 sq mi)
Population
• 2024 estimate
10,770,542
• 2019 census
10,717,617
• Density
51.88/km2 (134.4/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)2022 estimate
• Total
Increase $267.117 billion
• Per capita
$21,287
GDP (nominal)2022 estimate
• Total
Increase $107.534 billion
• Per capita
$8,569
CurrencySoviet Ruble (SUR)
Date formatCE, mm dd yyyy
Driving sideright
Calling code+7
ISO 3166 codeBY
Internet TLD.su

Byelorussia[b], officially the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, is a constituent republic of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe. It borders Lithuania to the west, Latvia to the northwest, Russia to the east and Ukraine to the south. With a population of 12.78 million in 2022 and an area of 207,600 km2, it is the 6th largest republic of the Soviet Union by area and population. The capital and largest city is Minsk. Other cities of significance include Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk and Grodno.

Byelorussia formed part of the East Slavic state of Kievan Rus' in the Middle Ages, from which it gets its name of "White Rus'". Much of Byelorussia fell under the control of Lithuania and later Poland-Lithuania in the 13th century, before this territory was conquered by the Russian Empire in the 18th century. Despite Russification attempts, Byelorussian culture and identity experienced a revival that culminated in Byelorussia's declaration of independence from Russia in 1918. Following the Russian Civil War and Polish-Soviet War, Byelorussia fell under the control of Poland in Western Byelorussia and under a soviet republic in the Soviet Union, which Byelorussia was a founding member of. The boundaries of modern day Byelorussia were set after World War II with Soviet annexations of Polish territory. After World War II, Byelorussia became a founding member of the United Nations alongside Ukraine and the Soviet Union.

Notes

  1. In organizations like the United Nations, where Byelorussia is a founding member, Byelorussia exists as a quasi-state ultimately represented by the Soviet Union.
  2. Belarusian: Беларусь, romanized: B(i)elarus, Russian: Белоруссия, romanized: Byelorussiya
    In English, also referred to as Belorussia, Belarus, and literally White Rus(sia)/Ruthenia