LocationEastern Europe.
Area207,595 sq km (80,153 sq miles).
Population9.8 million (UN, 2005).
Population Density47.2 per sq km.
CapitalMinsk.
Population: 1.7 million (2003).
GovernmentRepublic since 1991.
LanguageThe official languages are Belarusian and Russian.
ReligionChristian, mainly Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic with small Protestant, Jewish and Muslim communities.
TimeGMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before
last Sunday in October).
Electricity220V, 50Hz. Adaptors are recommended.
Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Sergey Sidorsky since 2003.
Head of StatePresident Aleksandr Lukashenko since 1994, reelected in 2006.
TelephoneCountry code: 375. To make international calls it is necessary to dial 8, wait for a tone, then dial 10. Calls from Belarus to some countries must be booked through the international operator. Public telephones take cards. Grey booths are for internal calls and blue ones for international calls.
Mobile TelephoneCoverage is limited to main towns. Handsets can be hired at the airport (Belcel office) and in Minsk.
InternetThere are a few Internet cafes in Minsk. Access is also available at some post offices.
MediaThe Belarusian authorities have been heavily criticized by human rights and media organizations for suppressing freedom of speech, muzzling the independent press and denying the opposition access to state owned media. The president’s administration controls decisions on content and the appointment of senior editors of state media.
Government-controlled newspapers enjoy considerable state subsidies and financial privileges, while many of the opposition print media have faced increased charges, been forced to close down, change name or publish abroad. But some leading privately-owned newspapers survive thanks to popular demand.
The
Belarusian National State Teleradio Company operates domestic radio and TV channels and an external radio service. Some radio stations target Belarusian listeners from outside the country.
PostAirmail to Western Europe takes a minimum of 10 days. The Central Post Office (Minsk, near the railway station) and the Yubileynaya and Planeta hotels in Minsk offer express mail services.
DHL Worldwide Express and
Federal Express also have branches in Minsk.
Post office hours: 0800-2000 (central office in Minsk).
PressThe English-language paper
Belarus Today is published weekly. The principal dailies are
Narodnaya Hazeta and
Respublika, all printed in Belarusian and Russian.
Sovetskaya Beloroussiya is printed in Russian.
Zvyazda is printed in Belarusian.
Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta, which temporarily closed in 2003, has since resumed publication and is the main private daily paper.
Belorusskaya Gazeta is a weekly private publication
. Radio• Belarusian Radio, which is state-run, operates three national networks and an external service.
• Radio Baltic Waves brodcasts from Lithuania while
Radio Ratsyya is based in Poland.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.
2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas.
8 Mar International Women’s Day.
15 Mar Constitution Day.
6-9 Apr Orthodox Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
9 May Victory Day.
3 Jul Independence Day.
2 Nov Dzyady (Remembrance Day).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas.
8 Mar International Women’s Day.
15 Mar Constitution Day.
25-28 Apr Orthodox Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
9 May Victory Day.
3 Jul Independence Day.
2 Nov Dzyady (Remembrance Day).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
Contact Information:Belintourist (National Tour Operator)19 Pobediteley Avenue, 220004 Minsk, Belarus
Tel: (17) 203 1143.
Website:
www.belintourist.by Embassy of Belarus in the UK6 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL, UK
Tel: (020) 7937 3288
or 7938 3677 (visa section).
Website:
www.belembassy.org/uk Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800; 0900-1230 (visa section).
Embassy of Belarus in the USA1619 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
Tel: (202) 986 1604
or 1606 (consular section).
Website:
www.belarusembassy.org
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