After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his election in July 1995 as the country's first president, Alexander LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion continue.
Full Name: Republic of Belarus
Area: 207,600 sq km (water: 0 sq km, land: 207,600 sq km)
Population: 9,648,533 (July 2009 est.)
Capital City: Minsk
People: Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish 3.9%, Ukrainian 2.4%, other 1.1% (1999 census)
Language: Belarusian, Russian, other
Religion: Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Government Type: Republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
Chief of State: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Sergei SIDORSKY (since 19 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (since December 2003)
GDP: $US 60.3 billion (2008 est.)
GDP per Capita: $US 11,800 (2008 est.)
Inflation: 14.8% (2008 est.)
Unemployment: 1.6% (2005)
Industries: Metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, televisions, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, refrigerators
Currency: Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)
Member of EU: No
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