History of Belarus. Belarus chronology

History of Belarus

Belarus Chronology

Belarus

Guide to Belarus Facts about Belarus Culture of Belarus History of Belarus Eating out in Belarus Language of Belarus

Choose other country guides

Belarus Chronology

Beginning
1067	The town of Minsk was established.
15-19th Century	Belarusian history was connected closely to the history of Lithuania, Poland and Russia.

Early 20th Century
1905	Jews in Minsk were severely persecuted and suffered almost entire destruction.
1918	Belarus proclaimed its independence from Russia after the end of World War I.
1919	After the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia Belarus was annexed as a part of the Soviet Union, together with Lithuania and other countries.
1923	The premier of Israel, Simon Peres, was born in Belarus.

Mid-20th Century and World War II's impact on Belarus
1941	Nazi invasion. The Germans initialised a German-run police made up of local 'volunteers'.
1941 July 18	40 Jews were drowned in the River Dvina by SS troops.
1941 October 14	The first massive deportations of Jews began in Minsk.
1941-1943	Three Jewish brothers created a refuge for escaping Jews in the forests of the country. Later a book about them was written.
1942	10,000 Jews were killed in Minsk.
1942	Two days later 25,000 more Jews were murdered. The next day a 1,000 more were gassed, again in Minsk.
1943	The Jewish ghettos in Belarus were cancelled.
1944	Minsk was free from the Nazi terror.

Post World War II Belarus
1988	Outside of Minsk in the region of Kurapaty mass graves were found. They are believed to be the last resting places of people murdered during the Stalin regime of persecution or the graves of Jews killed in World War II.
1990 July 27	Belarus proclaimed sovereignty from Russia.
1991 August 25	Belarus gained its independence.
1991 December 8	Russia, Belarus and Ukraine forged a new alliance – the Commonwealth of Independent States.
1994	Alexander Lukashenko became president of Belarus.
1996	Lukashenko decided the new flag to be almost the same as its Soviet-period predecessor and installed Russian as the official language of the country.
1996	Demonstrations were held in Minsk to oppose the pro-Russian policies of the president, but the demonstrators were battled by the police forces.
1996 June	The police fired on Victor Gonchar who was Lukashenko's most active opponent and critic.
1996 August	Banks are forced to reform and even nationalise in some cases, due to a crackdown. As a result by 1997 all banks must register.
1996 November 10	After a national referendum Lukashenko's post of president was extended for a 10 year period. The new constitution made it possible for him to hold the executive and judicial power in the country and to ban all private property.
1996 November 18	75 of 199 MP lawmakers signed a petition to impeach the president.
1996 November 26	Lukashenko supporters broke away from the parliament and created their own assembly.
1996 December 26	A nuclear power unit was planned to be built by 3 year's time.
1997	Economy crisis in Belarus started when the inflation reached 63 percent.
1998	Food rationing is imposed on milk, meat and other goods, because of food shortage.
1998	The only independent newspaper in the country, ‘Svoboda’, was terminated by Lukashenko.
1999	Lukashenko's presidential term ended and he wanted a year-long extension but the US would not tolerate him any more.
2000 March 25	A thousand-people demonstration against the president and severe clashes with the police.

21st Century
2001 September 9	Presidential elections. Lukashenko won again with 75.6 percent of the vote. Fraud and abuse were alleged.
2004	A leading independent university was closed a mere week after its students rallied against Lukashenko.
2004 September	Opposition candidates were banned from entering the elections.
2006	Once more Lukashenko won the elections after beating up his opponents and stating that Western countries should stay out of the way of his ruling his country. European observers said the elections were not free and fair. The US and the European countries sanctioned Belarus.
2007	Iran and Belarus created a partnership according to which Belarus will develop an oil field in Iran. At the same time disabled and retired people in Belarus were denied social benefits and payments.