The Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic ( be, Рада Беларускай Народнай Рэспублікі, Рада БНР, Rada BNR) was the governing body of the
Belarusian Democratic Republic
The Belarusian People's Republic (BNR; be, Беларуская Народная Рэспубліка, Bielaruskaja Narodnaja Respublika, ), or Belarusian Democratic Republic, was a state proclaimed by the Council of the Belarusian Democratic R ...
. Since 1919, the Rada BNR has been in exile where it has preserved its existence among the
Belarusian diaspora
The Belarusian diaspora refers to emigrants from the territory of Belarus as well as to their descendants.
According to different researchers, there are between 2.5 and 3.5 million Belarusian descendants living outside the territory of the Rep ...
as an
advocacy group
Advocacy groups, also known as interest groups, special interest groups, lobbying groups or pressure groups use various forms of advocacy in order to influence public opinion and ultimately policy. They play an important role in the developm ...
promoting support to Belarusian independence and democracy in
Belarus
Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...
among Western policymakers. As of 2022, the Rada BNR is the oldest existing
government in exile
A government in exile (abbreviated as GiE) is a political group that claims to be a country or semi-sovereign state's legitimate government, but is unable to exercise legal power and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile us ...
.
Formation
The Rada BNR was founded as the executive body of the
First All-Belarusian Congress
The First All-Belarusian Congress ( be, Першы Ўсебеларускі кангрэс or Першая Ўсебеларуская канферэнцыя) was a congress of Belarusian political organisations and groups held in Minsk in Decembe ...
, held in
Minsk
Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the admi ...
in December 1917 with over 1800 participants from different regions of
Belarus
Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...
including representatives of Belarusian national organisations, regional
zemstva
A ''zemstvo'' ( rus, земство, p=ˈzʲɛmstvə, plural ''zemstva'' – rus, земства) was an institution of local government set up during the great emancipation reform of 1861 carried out in Imperial Russia by Emperor Alexander ...
, main Christian denominations and Belarusian Jewish political parties. The work of the Congress was violently interrupted by the
Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks (russian: Большевики́, from большинство́ ''bol'shinstvó'', 'majority'),; derived from ''bol'shinstvó'' (большинство́), "majority", literally meaning "one of the majority". also known in English ...
.
After retreat of the Bolsheviks from Minsk, the
Rada
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Senat ...
(council) declared itself supreme power in Belarus. After the Bolsheviks and the
Germans
, native_name_lang = de
, region1 =
, pop1 = 72,650,269
, region2 =
, pop2 = 534,000
, region3 =
, pop3 = 157,000
3,322,405
, region4 =
, pop4 = ...
had signed the
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (also known as the Treaty of Brest in Russia) was a separate peace, separate peace treaty signed on 3 March 1918 between Russian SFSR, Russia and the Central Powers (German Empire, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Kingdom of ...
the Rada declared independence of Belarus as the sovereign
Belarusian Democratic Republic
The Belarusian People's Republic (BNR; be, Беларуская Народная Рэспубліка, Bielaruskaja Narodnaja Respublika, ), or Belarusian Democratic Republic, was a state proclaimed by the Council of the Belarusian Democratic R ...
.
As of 25 March 1918 the Rada BNR had 77 members including:
* 36 elected at the
All-Belarusian Congress
* 6 representatives of the Belarusian community of
Vilnius
Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional urb ...
* 15 representatives of ethnic minorities (Russian, Polish, Jewish)
* 10 representatives of
local authorities
Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-loca ...
* 10 representatives of major cities
Germany did not give official recognition to Belarus and hindered the activities of the institutions of the Belarusian Democratic Republic. Nevertheless, the Rada managed to start organising its governing bodies in different parts of the country as well as working on establishing a national Belarusian army and a national education system.
The Rada established official diplomatic contacts with several states including
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
, the
Ukrainian People's Republic
The Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR), or Ukrainian National Republic (UNR), was a country in Eastern Europe that existed between 1917 and 1920. It was declared following the February Revolution in Russia by the First Universal. In March 1 ...
,
Czechoslovakia
, rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי,
, common_name = Czechoslovakia
, life_span = 1918–19391945–1992
, p1 = Austria-Hungary
, image_p1 ...
, the
Baltic States
The Baltic states, et, Balti riigid or the Baltic countries is a geopolitical term, which currently is used to group three countries: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. All three countries are members of NATO, the European Union, the Eurozone, ...
,
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
and others.
With the approach of Bolshevik armies to
Minsk
Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the admi ...
the Rada was forced to relocate to
Vilnius
Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional urb ...
, then to
Hrodna
Grodno (russian: Гродно, pl, Grodno; lt, Gardinas) or Hrodna ( be, Гродна ), is a city in western Belarus. The city is located on the Neman River, 300 km (186 mi) from Minsk, about 15 km (9 mi) from the Polish b ...
and eventually, upon coordination with the
Republic of Lithuania
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
, to
Kaunas
Kaunas (; ; also see other names) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the largest city and the centre of a county in the Duchy of Trakai ...
.
In exile
1919–1947
In April 1919, the Polish army seized Hrodna and Vilnius.
Jozef Pilsudski
Jozef or Józef is a Dutch, Breton, Polish and Slovak version of masculine given name Joseph. A selection of people with that name follows. For a comprehensive list see and ..
* Józef Beck (1894–1944), Polish foreign minister in the 1930s
* J ...
issued the
stating that the new
Polish administration would grant them cultural and political autonomy. The proclamation was welcomed by the Belarusian leadership, especially considering Soviet plans for the Sovietization of Belarus.
However, in later negotiations with the Belarusian leaders
Pilsudski proposed to limit the Belarusian government's functions to purely cultural issues, which was rejected by the Belarusian prime minister
Anton Luckievic
Anton Luckievič ( Belarusian: Антон Луцкевіч; 29 January 1884 - 23 March 1942) was a leading figure of the Belarusian independence movement in the early 20th century, an initiator of the proclamation of the independence of Belarus, t ...
. The government of Belarus managed to include a statement for minorities' rights in Poland in the resolutions of the
Paris Peace Conference.
The government of the Belarusian Democratic Republic protested the Polish military mobilization in the area of Vilnius, the
Polish elections held there, and the annexation of the
Augustów
Augustów (; lt, Augustavas, formerly known in English as ''Augustovo'' or ''Augustowo'')" is a city in north-eastern Poland with 29,729 inhabitants as of December 2021. It lies on the Netta River and the Augustów Canal. It is situated in the ...
area to Poland. They also appealed to the
League of Nations
The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference that ...
,
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
and other countries to recognize the independence of Belarus.
In late 1920, the Belarusian government began negotiations anew with the
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks (russian: Большевики́, from большинство́ ''bol'shinstvó'', 'majority'),; derived from ''bol'shinstvó'' (большинство́), "majority", literally meaning "one of the majority". also known in English ...
s in Moscow and tried to persuade them to recognize the independence of Belarus and to release Belarusian political prisoners being held in Russian jails.
The negotiations were unsuccessful.
On 11 November 1920, the Belarusian Democratic Republic signed a partnership treaty with the
Republic of Lithuania
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
to cooperate in liberating Belarusian and Lithuanian lands from Polish occupation.
After the establishment of the
Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR, or Byelorussian SSR; be, Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка, Bielaruskaja Savieckaja Sacyjalistyčnaja Respublika; russian: Белор ...
(Belarusian SSR) as part of the
USSR
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
, several members of the Rada laid down their mandates in 1925 and returned to
Belarus
Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...
. Officially the Rada BNR never recognized the Belarusian SSR. Most of the members of the Rada who returned to Belarus, including former Prime Minister
Vaclau Lastouski
Vaclaŭ Justynavič Lastoŭski (, , russian: Вацлав Усти́нович Ласто́вский), 8 November 1883 – 23 January 1938) was a leading figure of the Belarusian independence movement in the early 20th century and the Prime Min ...
, were later killed in the
Soviet terror in Belarus in the 1930s.
During the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and the German occupation of
Czechoslovakia
, rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי,
, common_name = Czechoslovakia
, life_span = 1918–19391945–1992
, p1 = Austria-Hungary
, image_p1 ...
the Rada refused to cooperate with the Nazis or recognize the collaborationist government of Belarus, the
Belarusian Central Rada
The Belarusian Central Council ( be, Беларуская цэнтральная рада, in lacinka: Biełaruskaja centralnaja rada; german: Weißruthenischer Zentralrat) was a puppet administrative body in German-occupied Belarus during Worl ...
.
After the Second World War
The advance of the Red Army in 1945 forced the Rada of the BNR to relocate to the Western part of Germany, occupied by British and American troops.
In February 1948, the Rada passed a special manifesto, by which it declared its return to activity. In April 1948 the Rada, together with representatives of the Belarusian post-war refugees, held a conference in
Osterhofen
Osterhofen is a town in the district of Deggendorf, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Danube, 16 km south of Deggendorf.
The town surrounds Osterhofen Abbey
Osterhofen Abbey (german: Kloster Osterhofen, also c ...
, Bavaria.
The primary activities of the Rada BNR in the West were
lobbying
In politics, lobbying, persuasion or interest representation is the act of lawfully attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agency, regulatory agencie ...
and contacts with Western governments to ensure recognition of Belarus as a separate country. Together with other anti-Soviet organisations in the West, including governments in exile of Ukraine and the Baltic countries, the Rada protested against human rights violations in the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
. In the 1950s the Rada BNR enabled the creation of the Belarusian edition of
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a United States government funded organization that broadcasts and reports news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Caucasus, and the Middle East where it says tha ...
. Members of the Rada organized support to Belarus following the
Chernobyl accident
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the No. 4 reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet Union. It is one of only two nu ...
of 1986.
After dissolution of the USSR
After the
dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union, also negatively connoted as rus, Разва́л Сове́тского Сою́за, r=Razvál Sovétskogo Soyúza, ''Ruining of the Soviet Union''. was the process of internal disintegration within the Sov ...
in the 1990s, similar governments-in-exile of the neighboring countries (Lithuania, Poland and others) handed back their mandates to the corresponding independent governments.
Upon declaration of independence of the
Republic of Belarus
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
in 1990, interest in the Belarusian Democratic Republic has increased in Belarusian society. The
Belarusian Popular Front
The Belarusian Popular Front "Revival" (BPF, be, Беларускі Народны Фронт "Адраджэньне", БНФ; ''Biełaruski Narodny Front "Adradžeńnie"'', ''BNF'') was a social and political movement in Belarus in the late 1 ...
, which was the main pro-Perestroika anti-Communist opposition party, has in many aspects appealed to the restoration of an independent Belarus as the Belarusian Democratic Republic since the late 1980s. In 1991, the Belarusian parliament adopted the state symbols of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, the
Pahonia
The coat of arms of Lithuania consists of a mounted armoured knight holding a sword and shield, known as (). Since the early 15th century, it has been Lithuania's official coat of arms and is one of the oldest European coats of arms. It is als ...
and the
White-red-white flag
The white-red-white flag ( be, Бела-чырвона-белы сцяг, Biela-čyrvona-biely sciah) is a historic flag used by the Belarusian Democratic Republic in 1918 before Western Belarus was occupied by the Second Polish Republic and ...
, as state symbols of the Republic of Belarus.
In 1993, the government of the Republic of Belarus held official celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Belarusian Democratic Republic in Minsk. Members of the Rada BNR took part in the celebrations along with the senior political leaders of the Republic of Belarus. It was stated then that the Rada was not ready to return its mandate to the
Supreme Council of Belarus
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus, sometimes translated as Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus ( be, Вярхоўны Савет Рэспублікі Беларусь), was the unicameral legislature of Belarus between 1991 an ...
, which had originally been elected
under Soviet rule. However, the Rada was prepared to hand its mandate to a freely elected Belarusian parliament.
[ However, these plans were cancelled after president ]Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko (as transliterated from Russian language, Russian; also transliterated from Belarusian language, Belarusian as Alyaksand(a)r Ryhoravich Lukashenka;, ; rus, Александр Григорьевич Лука ...
, elected in 1994, established a return to Soviet policies in regards to Belarusian language and culture.
Today the Rada BNR attempts to promote democracy and independence for Belarus using contacts and lobbyism in countries where it has its representatives: USA, Canada, The United Kingdom, Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...
and others. The President of the Rada regularly holds meetings with western policymakers and makes official statements criticizing the human rights violations and continuing Russification
Russification (russian: русификация, rusifikatsiya), or Russianization, is a form of cultural assimilation in which non-Russians, whether involuntarily or voluntarily, give up their culture and language in favor of the Russian cultur ...
in Belarus. The Rada became a consolidating center for several exiled Belarusian opposition politicians.
Since the late 1980s, 25 March, the Independence Day of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, is widely celebrated by the Belarusian national democratic opposition as '' Freedom Day'' ( be, Дзень волі). It is usually accompanied by mass opposition rallies in Minsk
Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the admi ...
and by celebration events of the Belarusian diaspora organizations supporting the Belarusian government in exile.
Structure and functions
The Rada was intended to be a provisional parliament which would perform its functions till a constitutional convention of Belarus was held. The Rada BNR formed a government consisting of its members.
Today the Rada sees itself as bearer of a symbolic mandate and as a guarantor of the independence of Belarus. The goal of the Rada is to transfer its mandate to a democratically elected Parliament of Belarus
The National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus ( be, Нацыянальны сход Рэспублікі Беларусь, Nacyjanalny schod Respubliki Bielaruś; russian: Национальное собрание Республики Бел ...
under the condition that no threat to the independence of Belarus should be present.[
The Rada is led by the President of the Rada BNR (Старшыня Рады БНР) and a Presidium (Executive council) consisting of 14 members.
The Rada includes several ''Secretariates'' as working groups or individual secretaries responsible for specific areas, this include among others:][
* Secretariate for External Affairs
* Secretariate for Internal Affairs
* Secretariate for Information
* Secretariate for Education
The activity of the Rada BNR is regulated by the Provisional Constitution of the Belarusian People's Republic and the Statute of the Rada BNR.
]
Presidents of the Rada BNR
* Janka Sierada (9 March – 14 May 1918)
* Jazep Losik
Jazep Losik (also known as Jazep (Yazep) Liosik; ; 18 November 1884 – 1 April 1940) was a Belarusian academic, leading figure of the independence movement and a victim of Stalin's purges.
Early years
Losik was born into a large farming f ...
(14 May 1918 – 13 December 1919)
* Piotra Krečeŭski
Piotra Krecheuski ( be, Пётра Крэчэўскі, Łacinka: Piotra Krečeŭski, russian: Пётр Антонович Кречевский; August 7, 1879 – March 8, 1928, Prague) was a Belarusian statesman and president of the Rada of the ...
(13 December 1919 – 1928)
* Vasil Zacharka
Vasil Zacharka ( be, Васіль Захарка, April 1, 1877, Dabrasielcy near Grodno – March 14, 1943, Prague) was a Belarusian statesman and the second president of the Belarusian People's Republic in exile.
Early life
Vasil Zachark ...
(1928–1943)
* Mikoła Abramčyk
Mikola Abramchyk ( be, Мікола Абрамчык, russian: Николай Абрамчик, he, מיקעולא אברמצ'יק) (16 August 1903 – 29 May 1970) was a Belarusian journalist and emigre politician of Ottoman Jewish and Armeni ...
(1943–1970)
* Vincent Žuk-Hryskievič (1970–1980)
* Jazep Sažyč
Jazep Sažyč ( be, Язэп Сажыч, also Joseph Sazyc, September 5, 1917 – November 19, 2007) was a Belarusian politician and military commander.
Life in Russian Empire
Jazep Sažyč was born in Haradziečna (now in Navahrudak district, ...
(1980–1997)
* Ivonka Survilla
Ivonka Survilla ( be, Івонка Сурвілла, born Ivonka Šymaniec, be, Івонка Шыманец, pl, Iwonka Szymaniec, April 11, 1936) is the President of the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, a self-proclaimed Belarusian ...
(since 1997)
Current Presidium
The current presidium consists of:
* Ivonka Survilla
Ivonka Survilla ( be, Івонка Сурвілла, born Ivonka Šymaniec, be, Івонка Шыманец, pl, Iwonka Szymaniec, April 11, 1936) is the President of the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, a self-proclaimed Belarusian ...
– President
* Siarhiej Navumčyk, former member of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus, sometimes translated as Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus ( be, Вярхоўны Савет Рэспублікі Беларусь), was the unicameral legislature of Belarus between 1991 an ...
and the Belarusian Popular Front
The Belarusian Popular Front "Revival" (BPF, be, Беларускі Народны Фронт "Адраджэньне", БНФ; ''Biełaruski Narodny Front "Adradžeńnie"'', ''BNF'') was a social and political movement in Belarus in the late 1 ...
– 1st Vice-President
* Viačasłau Stankievič, Belarusan-American Association
Belarusan-American Association (, ''Bielaruska-Amierykanskaje Zadzinočan'nje'', BAZA) is a non-profit organization of Belarusians in the United States. In the United States, the Belarusan-American Association is a member organization of the Cen ...
– Vice-President
* Mikoła Pačkajeŭ, Association of Belarusians in Great Britain
The Association of Belarusians in Great Britain ( be, Згуртаваньне беларусаў у Вялікай Брытаніі, ''Zhurtavańnie bielarusaŭ u Vialikaj Brytanii'') is the oldest Belarusian organisation in the United Kingdom un ...
, former senior activist of the Belarusian Popular Front
The Belarusian Popular Front "Revival" (BPF, be, Беларускі Народны Фронт "Адраджэньне", БНФ; ''Biełaruski Narodny Front "Adradžeńnie"'', ''BNF'') was a social and political movement in Belarus in the late 1 ...
and Malady Front
Young Front ( be, Малады Фронт, malady front, МФ) is a Belarusian youth movement registered in the Czech Republic. It is the largest youth organisation of Belarus declaring democratic values. It is a member of the European Democrat ...
– Vice-President
* Palina Prysmakova, Board Member of the Belarusian Institute of America
Belarusian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to Belarus
* Belarusians, people from Belarus, or of Belarusian descent
* A citizen of Belarus, see Demographics of Belarus
* Belarusian language
* Belarusian culture
* Belarusian cuisine
* Byelor ...
and the Krecheuski Foundation, Assistant Professor of the School of Public Administration at Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University (Florida Atlantic or FAU) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida, and satellite campuses in Dania Beach, Florida, Dania Beach, Davie, Florida, Davie, Fort Lauderd ...
- Secretary
* Viačasłau Bortnik, former Vice-President of the Belarusan-American Association
Belarusan-American Association (, ''Bielaruska-Amierykanskaje Zadzinočan'nje'', BAZA) is a non-profit organization of Belarusians in the United States. In the United States, the Belarusan-American Association is a member organization of the Cen ...
* Aleś Čajčyc – Information Secretary
* Valer Dvornik – Treasurer
* Ała Kuźmickaja – Recording Secretary
* Ała Orsa Romano, president of the Orsa Romano Foundation – Secretary of Education
* Valancina Tryhubovič, Belarusan-American Association
Belarusan-American Association (, ''Bielaruska-Amierykanskaje Zadzinočan'nje'', BAZA) is a non-profit organization of Belarusians in the United States. In the United States, the Belarusan-American Association is a member organization of the Cen ...
– Archivist
* Alaksandar Starykievič
* Alaksandar Kot
* Pavał Šaŭcoŭ, Association of Belarusians in Great Britain
The Association of Belarusians in Great Britain ( be, Згуртаваньне беларусаў у Вялікай Брытаніі, ''Zhurtavańnie bielarusaŭ u Vialikaj Brytanii'') is the oldest Belarusian organisation in the United Kingdom un ...
* Siarhiej Piatkievič, Association of Belarusians in Great Britain
The Association of Belarusians in Great Britain ( be, Згуртаваньне беларусаў у Вялікай Брытаніі, ''Zhurtavańnie bielarusaŭ u Vialikaj Brytanii'') is the oldest Belarusian organisation in the United Kingdom un ...
* Hanna Surmač, Belarusan-American Association
Belarusan-American Association (, ''Bielaruska-Amierykanskaje Zadzinočan'nje'', BAZA) is a non-profit organization of Belarusians in the United States. In the United States, the Belarusan-American Association is a member organization of the Cen ...
Awards and decorations of the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic
In 1949, the Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic in exile under President Mikola Abramchyk has introduced a number of civic and military awards. There has been a number of decorations in the 1950s.[
In 2016, the Rada of the BDR has announced plans to renew the decorations.] In 2018, the Rada has awarded 130 Belarusian activists and politicians, as well as a number of foreigners, with a newly created medal commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Belarusian Democratic Republic.
Notable members
File:Raman Skirmunt.jpeg, Raman Skirmunt
Raman (Roman) Skirmunt ( be, Раман Скірмунт; 7 May 1868 – 7 October 1939) was a Belarusian and Polesian statesman, aristocrat and landlord. Patron, significant landowner, vice-chairman (1907-1917, 1918-?) of the Minsk Agricultu ...
File:Kandratovic kipryjan 1906.jpg, Gen. Kipryjan Kandratovič
File:Вінцэнт Гадлеўскі 2.jpeg, Fr. Vincent Hadleŭski
File:Ivan Lutskevich.jpg, Ivan Luckievič
Ivan Luckievič (; 9 June 1881 – 20 August 1919) was a leading figure of the Belarusian independence movement in the early 20th century, publicist and archaeologist. He was a brother of Anton Luckievič.
Early life
Luckievič was born in S ...
File:Luckewicz fota090128.jpg, Anton Luckievič
File:Vaclaw Lastowski.jpg, Vacłaŭ Łastoŭski
Vaclaŭ Justynavič Lastoŭski (, , russian: Вацлав Усти́нович Ласто́вский), 8 November 1883 – 23 January 1938) was a leading figure of the Belarusian independence movement in the early 20th century and the Prime Min ...
File:Br.Tarashkevich.jpg, Branisłaŭ Taraškievič
Branislaw Adamavich Tarashkyevich, russian: Бронисла́в Ада́мович Тарашке́вич, lt, Bronislavas Taraškevičius, pl, Bronisław Adamowicz Taraszkiewicz (20 January 1892 – 29 November 1938) was a Belarusian public fi ...
File:Fr Alexander Nadson.jpg, Fr. Alexander Nadson
Alexander Nadson ( be, Аляксандар Надсан, Aliaksandar Nadsan, 8 August 1926 – 15 April 2015) was the Apostolic Visitor for Belarusian Greek-Catholic faithful abroad, scholar, translator and a notable Belarusian émigré social ...
* Anton Adamovič
* Paluta Badunova
Paluta Aliaksandraŭna Badunova ( be, Палута Аляксандраўна Бадунова; 7 September 1885 – 29 November 1938) was a key female political figure in the Belarusian independence movement of the early 20th century. She w ...
* Janka Filistovič
*Larysa Hienijuš
Larysa Hienijuš (Belarusian language, Belarusian: Ларыса Геніюш; August 9, 1910 - April 7, 1983) was a Belarusian poet, writer and active participant of the national movement.
Biography
Childhood and youth
She was born Larysa Miklaš ...
* Vaclaŭ Ivanoŭski
*Kastuś Jezavitaŭ
Kastuś Jezavitaŭ (also known as Kanstantyn Jezavitau (Ezavitaŭ), ; russian: Константи́н Бори́сович Езови́тов; 17 November 1893 - 23 May 1946) was a political and military leader within the Belarusian independence ...
*Jazep Mamońka
Jazep Mamońka (; 28 January 1889 – 10 September 1937) was а Belarusian politician and victim of Stalin’s purges.
Early years
Mamońka was born in the village of Zaliessie in Minsk governorate of the Russian Empire (now Slucak district ...
* Michaś Naŭmovič
*Mikola Ravienski
Mikola Ravienski (; 5 December 1886 - 9 March 1953) was a Belarusian composer, conductor and music critic who authored music for the famous hymn Mahutny Boža (Almighty God).
Early life
Ravienski was born on 5 December 1886 into the family of a ...
* Symon Rak-Michajłoŭski
* Lavon Rydleŭski
*Arkadź Smolič
Arkadź Smolič (also spelled Arkadzi Smolich, ; 29 September 1891 - 17 June 1938) was an academic, active participant of the Belarusian independence movement and a victim of Stalin's purges.
Biography
Arkadź Smolicz, white Аркадзь А ...
*Jan Stankievič
Jan (Janka) Stankievič (also called Ian Stankevich, be, Ян Станкевіч, pl, Jan Stankiewicz; 26 November 1891 – 16 August 1976) was a Belarusian politician, Nazi collaborator, linguist, historian and philosopher.
Biography
Jan S ...
* Zośka Vieras
* Jan Zaprudnik
* Raisa Žuk-Hryškievič
See also
* Council of Lithuania
The Council of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Taryba, german: Litauischer Staatsrat, pl, Rada Litewska), after July 11, 1918 the State Council of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Valstybės Taryba) was convened at the Vilnius Conference that took place betwe ...
* Estonian government-in-exile
The Estonian government-in-exile was the formally declared governmental authority of the Republic of Estonia in exile, existing from 1944 until the reestablishment of Estonian sovereignty over Estonian territory in 1991 and 1992. It traced its l ...
* Latvian diplomatic service
The Latvian diplomatic service in exile was the only governmental body of the Republic of Latvia which continued its activities during the Nazi and Soviet occupation of Latvia during 1940–1991. Latvian diplomats who were stationed in embassie ...
* National Anti-Crisis Management
* United Transitional Cabinet
The United Transitional Cabinet is an alternative government for Belarus that was formed in August 2022.
Creation
Following disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election, opposition forces, led by presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanousk ...
References
External links
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{{Authority control
Governments in exile
Politics of Belarus
Parliaments of Belarus
Belarusian diaspora
Political advocacy groups in Belarus
Advocacy groups
Anti-communist organizations