Byelorussian SSR (TheodoresTomfooleries)

Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка (Belarusian) Белорусская Советская Социалистическая Республика (Russian)
Flag State Emblem
Motto: "Пралетарыі ўсіх краін, яднайцеся!" "Workers of the world, unite!"
Anthem: State Anthem of the Byelorussian SSR
Status	Constituent republic of the Soviet Union
Capital and largest city	Minsk
Official languages	Byelorussian Russian
Recognised languages	Polish Ukrainian
Religion (2022)	64% Christianity 36% no religion
Demonym(s)	Byelorussian Soviet
Government	Unitary Marxist-Leninist one-party soviet socialist republic
• First Secretary	Vasily Novikov
• State Chairman	Alexander Lukashenko
• Premier	Aleksey Sokol
Legislature	Supreme 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)
Currency	Soviet Ruble (SUR)
Date format	CE, mm dd yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+7
ISO 3166 code	BY
Internet TLD	.su

Byelorussia, 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.