Capital: Minsk
Location:
Eastern Europe, east of Poland (slightly smaller than Kansas)
Registration Embassy and Consulate:
Americans living in or visiting Belarus are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Belarus and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Belarus. The U.S. Embassy is located in Minsk at 46 Starovilenskaya Ulitsa; telephone (375) 172-10-12-83 or 234-77-61, fax (375) 172-76-88-62.
Background:
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 but, to date, neither side has actively sought to implement the accord.
Ethnic Groups:
Byelorussian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish, Ukrainian, and other 7.4%
Language:
Byelorussian, Russian, other
Currency:
BYB/BYR
Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)
Belarusian rubles per US dollar - 2,144 (March 2007), 1,180 (yearend 2000), 730,000 (15 December 1999), 139,000 (25 January 1999), 46,080 (second quarter 1998), 25,964 (1997), 15,500 (yearend 1996); note - on 1 January 2000, the national currency was redenominated at one new ruble to 2,000 old rubles
Climate:
Cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
Population:
10,350,194 (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Medical:
Medical care in Belarus is limited. There is a severe shortage of basic medical supplies, including anesthetics, vaccines and antibiotics. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities.
Safety:
Security personnel may at times place foreign visitors under surveillance. Hotel rooms, telephones and fax machines may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched. Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in problems with authorities. These sites are not always clearly marked and application of these restrictions is subject to interpretation.
There have been numerous situations involving American citizens traveling through Belarus by train in which Americans have been required to disembark while in transit. In some instances local border and train authorities have threatened passengers with jail or extorted "fines" when it was learned that they did not possess a valid transit visa. In some cases, American citizens have been subjected to rude and threatening treatment including body and baggage searches. American citizens are advised not to pay any border or train officials for transit visas. These officials are not authorized to issue such visas. Nor should Americans pay "transit visa fines." Americans finding themselves in Belarus without transit visas should, if confronted by border or train personnel, demand to be put in contact with consular officials at the American Embassy in Minsk.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Belarus is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
Fair
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance:
Poor
U.S. citizens may drive in Belarus with their home country driver's license for up to six months from arrival. Foreign drivers should, therefore, always carry their passports to prove date of entry into the country in the event they are stopped by the police. After residing in Belarus for six months, one may apply for a local driver's license. A medical exam at the Driver's Clinic, which will include a chest x-ray, is the only exam required to receive a local driver's license.
The roads in Belarus range from short stretches of highways where cars and trucks can exceed speeds of 120 km/h (75 mph) to dirt roads where 40 km/h (25 mph) is difficult to sustain. Visible and hidden dangers are profuse, including large potholes, the absence of roadsigns, and lack of service areas. Other hazards include unlit or poorly lit streets, inattentive and dark-clothed pedestrians walking on unlit roads, drivers under the influence of alcohol, and a common disregard for traffic rules. Driving in winter is especially dangerous because many roads are not properly cleared of ice and snow. Driving with caution is urged at all times.
Taxi service is prompt although fares vary greatly and the automobiles themselves are often in poor condition. Buses and trolleys are poorly maintained, lack heating or cooling capabilities, and are usually crowded.
For additional information about road safety, see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page's road safety overseas feature at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html.
