Belarusian Governments (Democratic Institutions) Return to the A Belarus Miscellany Topic List Search the A Belarus Miscellany Web site Click to view larger image (155 KB). (Use your "back" button or arrow to return to this page.)

The following (democratic) Belarusian government organizations have appeared between 1918 and 1999. Each has legitimacy and some world recognition, although currently none of them has any significant power within the national boundaries of the Republic of Belarus.

• The Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic (BNR) in Exile   also referred to as the Belarusan National Republic
  See the Belarusian Democratic Republic (BNR) Web site for further information.   (Note: Although this is a very interesting Web site, they still have not officially announced it, but I was tired of linking to their old URL which they gave up over a year ago.)
  • See the following for a copy (in Belarusian & English) of the national anthem of the BNR.

  • See the following for recent news articles about the BNR.

    Note: Copies of several Belarusian postage stamps issued by the BNR in 1918, 1920, are included there as well.

  • See the following Belarus National Republic (BNR) Appeal, March 25, 2000.

  • See the following for source documents in the collection, Archives: Belarusian Democratic Republic (Volume 1 in two books, 1998).

• The Supreme Soviet (Parliament) of Belarus
  The 13th Belarusian Parliament (Supreme Soviet) Web Page

  The 260-seat 13th Supreme Soviet was outlawed by then-President Lukashenko* as a result of a controversial November 26, 1996 referendum (sic) which gave him sweeping powers and extended his term of office by 2 years. There were 199 members in the Supreme Soviet before the disbandment. Approximately 130 Supreme Soviet members filed applications for seats in the National Assembly House of Representatives, the legislature that was hand-picked by Mr. Lukashenko after the referendum, but only 110 were admitted. Between 40 and 50 members regard the referendum unconstitutional and hold regular meetings, saying that they represent the 13th Supreme Soviet, the only legitimate legislature in the country. The 13th Supreme Soviet is still regarded as Belarus' legitimate legislature by most foreign governments and international organizations. The OSCE reaffirmed the official status of the Supreme Soviet in July, 1998.

  Speaker: Semyon (Syamyon) Sharetsky

  
  

  (*Note: Mr. Lukashenka's term of office as president expired in July, 1999, but he is still in control of Belarus).

• The Presidium of the National Executive Committee (NEC)
  The shadow coalition cabinet of the Belarusian opposition.

  NEC Chairperson: Gennady Karpenko

  Information about the The 13th Belarusian Parliament (Supreme Soviet) National Executive Committee (NEC)

• The Coordinating Council of the Congress of Democratic Forces of Belarus
  The Coordinating Council (Rada) of the Congress of Democratic Forces of Belarus was established early this year [1999] and held its most recent session in July. The council represents the country's three major opposition groups:

  • the Belarusian Social Democratic Party,
  • the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), and
  • the United Civic Party, as well as
  • the Assembly of Non-Governmental Organizations,
  • the Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, and the
  • Khartiya-97 (Charter '97) human rights movement.

  The BPF suspended its membership in the council almost immediately. There has been a split within the BPF since then, and the Vintsuk Vyachorka wing of the Front has expressed readiness to resume cooperation with the council. The Coordinating Council only represents movements that want Belarus to remain independent.

  Current Chairperson: Nikolai Statkevich   (chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party)