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Freedom March (Belarus)
The Freedom March () was a 1999 protest by the Belarusian opposition in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. The protest was caused as a result of fears of Belarus being annexed into Russia as part of the then-impending ratification of the Union State. Additional concerns of protesters were the enforced disappearances of opposition politicians Viktar Hanchar and Yury Zacharanka and, more broadly, the authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. The protest, which ended in a violent confrontation between the city's police and protesters, resulted in the Belarusian government walking back plans for the Union State and the continued independence of Belarus from Russia. Background Belarus gained independence in 1991, amid the backdrop of the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt and the broader dissolution of the Soviet Union. The export-oriented economy of Belarus remained economically tied to Russia following its independence, and, following Alexander Lukashenko being elected Pre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belarusian Democracy Movement
The Belarusian opposition consists of groups and individuals in Belarus seeking to challenge, from 1988 to 1991, the authorities of Soviet Belarus, and since 1995, the leader of the country Alexander Lukashenko (allied with Vladimir Putin), whom supporters of the movement often consider to be a dictator. Supporters of the movement tend to call for a parliamentary democracy based on a Western model, with freedom of speech and political and religious pluralism. Background The modern Belarusian democracy movement originated in the late 1980s when Mikhail Gorbachev's Perestroika and the Chernobyl disaster exposed the serious shortcomings of the Soviet system and galvanized a significant section of Belarusians around the issues of environment, de-Stalinization, national revival and democratic change. The dissolution of the Soviet Union brought about a brief period of democracy from 1991 to 1994. However, since his election in 1994, Alexander Lukashenko established an authoritarian ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anatoly Lebedko
Anatoly Vladimirovich Lebedko ( ; ; born 27 June 1961) is a Belarusian politician and pro-democracy activist who is currently the head of the United Civic Party, an opposition party. Life Born in the village of , then part of the Stoŭbtsy Raion within the Minsk Region of the Soviet Union's Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Lebedko emerged in the 1990s as one of the leading critics of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, whom Lebedko, along with other opposition leaders and many western governments, considers a dictator. Lebedko's strident opposition to Lukashenka led to increasingly bitter confrontations with the Belarusian authorities through the late 1990s and into the 2000s. He was arrested numerous times for participating in unsanctioned protests and marches, including the 1999 Freedom March; was charged with libel against Lukashenko several times; and was beaten outside his home by masked men he alleges were connected to Lukashenko. Lebedko appears to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Independence Square, Minsk
Independence Square (, , ) is a square in Minsk, Belarus. It is one of the landmarks on Independence Avenue (Minsk), Independence Avenue. The National Assembly of Belarus and Minsk City Hall are on this square. During the period of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic it was called Lenin Square. It is currently one of the largest squares in Europe. The Minsk Metro's Ploshcha Lyenina (Minsk Metro), Ploshcha Lyenina station opens to the square, and the area is also serviced by the 1, 69, and 119с busses, among several others. History The square was designed by Iosif Langbard and was created for conducting rallies and to serve as Minsk's main ceremonial venue during the Soviet times. During World War II most buildings that were on the square were destroyed by the Nazism, Nazis. From 1946 to 1984 October square, Minsk, October Square replaced Lenin Square as the city's main venue. A project for the reconstruction of Independence Square was launched after the fall of the USSR ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yakub Kolas Square
The Yakub Kolas Square ( - ''Plošča Jakuba Kolasa'') is a square in Pershamayski District of Minsk, located on the crossing of Independence Avenue, Yakub Kolas street and Vera Khoruzhaya street. The square was named in honour of the folk poet and one of the founders of the classic Belarusian literature - Yakub Kolas. Description History Yakub Kolas square is located at the place of the historical village Kamarouka, which in turn gave name to the nearby Kamarou Flee Market. Initially the square bore the name "Kamarouskaya". In 1956 the square was named in honour of the folk poet and one of the founders of the classic Belarusian literature - Yakub Kolas. The monument to Yakub Kolas was opened November 3, 1972 celebrating the 90th anniversary of the birth of Yakub Kolas. Architectural ensemble The sculptures of Yakub Kolas and figures from his poems form the architectural centerpiece of the square. Lush greenery and fountains make this square an attractive landmark on a hot sum ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1999 Belarusian Presidential Election
The 1999 Belarusian presidential election was a political protest action by members of Belarusian opposition who did not recognise the 1996 constitutional reform which extended Alexander Lukashenko's presidential term. Background The 1996 constitutional amendments created the bicameral National Assembly of Belarus to replace the Supreme Council, which was a stronghold of opposition towards populist president Alexander Lukashenko. Another amendment extended incumbent Alexander Lukashenko's term for another two years and as a result, the next election moved from 1999 to 2001. On 10 January 1999, a meeting of 43 former deputies of the Supreme Council of Belarus was held. In accordance with 1994 Constitution, they called presidential election on 16 May 1999, as from Council's point of view Lukashenko's term was due to end in July. To organize the election, the Supreme Council appointed an alternative Central Election Commission headed by Viktar Hanchar. Campaign On 13 February ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belsat TV
Belsat (; ; stylised as B☰LSAT) is a Polish free-to-air terrestrial and satellite television channel aimed at Belarus. The channel is a subsidiary of Telewizja Polska, TVP S.A. From the outset, it has been co-funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Poland), Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international donors. Broadcasting platforms Satellite and cable networks Belsat broadcasts from the Astra 4A, Astra 4A satellite, which covers the European region of the Post-Soviet states, former USSR. In Ukraine, it is available on most cable networks. In Poland, it is carried by approximately 20% of cable networks. In Belarus, however, it is unavailable on cable or digital networks due to a ban by the authorities. Internet The channel's programming is broadcast live via the belsat.eu website, YouTube, and the BelsatSmart app for Smart TVs. Meanwhile, the БелсатТВ app for Android (operating system), Android and iOS tablets and smartphones allows viewers to watch l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Guardian Media Group, owned by the Scott Trust Limited. The trust was created in 1936 to "secure the financial and editorial independence of ''The Guardian'' in perpetuity and to safeguard the journalistic freedom and liberal values of ''The Guardian'' free from commercial or political interference". The trust was converted into a limited company in 2008, with a constitution written so as to maintain for ''The Guardian'' the same protections as were built into the structure of the Scott Trust by its creators. Profits are reinvested in its journalism rather than distributed to owners or shareholders. It is considered a newspaper of record in the UK. The editor-in-chief Katharine Viner succeeded Alan Rusbridger in 2015. S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boris Berezovsky (businessman)
Boris Abramovich Berezovsky (, ; 23 January 1946 – 23 March 2013), also known as Platon Elenin, was a Russian business oligarch, government official, engineer and mathematician and a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He had the federal state civilian service rank of 1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation. Berezovsky had an estimated net worth of $3 billion in 1997, having made it via the privatization in Russia of state property in the early 1990s, primarily the main television channel, Channel One. However, by the time of his death in 2013, he was impoverished and severely depressed after losing legal battles against his former friend, Roman Abramovich, forced sales of his assets, and a large divorce settlement with his former wife. Berezovsky helped fund Unity, the political party that formed Vladimir Putin's first parliamentary base, and was elected to the State Duma in the 1999 Russian legislative election. However, following the 2000 Ru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin (1 February 1931 – 23 April 2007) was a Soviet and Russian politician and statesman who served as President of Russia from 1991 to 1999. He was a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) from 1961 to 1990. He later stood as a Independent politician, political independent, during which time he was viewed as being ideologically aligned with Liberalism in Russia, liberalism. Yeltsin was born in Butka, Russia, Butka, Ural Oblast (1923–1934), Ural Oblast. He would grow up in Kazan and Berezniki. He worked in construction after studying at the Ural State Technical University. After joining the Communist Party, he rose through its ranks, and in 1976, he became First Secretary of the party's Sverdlovsk Oblast committee. Yeltsin was initially a supporter of the ''perestroika'' reforms of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. He later criticized the reforms as being too moderate and called for a transition to a Multi-party system, multi-party repr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Minsk Spring
The "Minsk Spring" or "Belarusian Spring" (, ) was a series of mass street protests in 1996 and 1997 against the increasingly-authoritarian rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. Background and causes The protests were triggered by a constitutional referendum on amendments to the 1994 Constitution of Belarus. The referendum was called following a dispute between President Lukashenko and the elected parliament, the Thirteenth Supreme Council, over the president's proposal to amend the constitution to extend his term of office from five to seven years, create a second legislative chamber whose members would be appointed by the president, and limit the power of the Constitutional Court. Officially, the public voted in favor of the amendments by a wide majority, although many countries, including European Union member states and the United States sharply criticized the conditions under which the referendum was held as "riddled with violations of democratic norms" and refused t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dissolution Of The Soviet Union
The Soviet Union was formally dissolved as a sovereign state and subject of international law on 26 December 1991 by Declaration No. 142-N of the Soviet of the Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Declaration No. 142-Н of the Soviet of the Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, formally establishing the dissolution of the Soviet Union as a state and subject of international law. It also brought an end to the Soviet Union's federal government and General Secretary (also President) Mikhail Gorbachev's effort to reform the Soviet political and economic system in an attempt to stop a period of political stalemate and economic backslide. The Soviet Union had experienced internal stagnation and ethnic separatism. Although highly centralized until its final years, the country was made up of 15 top-level republics that served as the homelands for different ethnicities. By late 1991, amid a catastrophic political crisis, with several republics al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1991 Soviet Coup D'état Attempt
The 1991 Soviet coup attempt, also known as the August Coup, was a failed attempt by hardliners of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) to Coup d'état, forcibly seize control of the country from Mikhail Gorbachev, who was President of the Soviet Union, Soviet President and General Secretary of the CPSU at the time. The coup leaders consisted of top military and civilian officials, including Vice President Gennady Yanayev, who together formed the State Committee on the State of Emergency (). They opposed Gorbachev's Perestroika, reform program, were angry at the Revolutions of 1989, loss of control over Eastern European states and fearful of the New Union Treaty, which was on the verge of being signed by the Soviet Union (USSR). The treaty was to decentralize much of the Government of the Soviet Union, central Soviet government's power and distribute it among its Republics of the Soviet Union, fifteen republics; Boris Yeltsin's demand for more autonomy to the republics ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
