Is Belarus part of Russia? Or NOT?

[sephodwyrm]

Ok, Russians:

I am confused.
Is Belarus part of you guys or not? How's that Union system working again? Did it happen? Is it happening? What do you guys think?

[Stevcho the Serb]

No, it's not.

[Alsatian]

I was under the impression that Belarus was still a sovereign country.

Though I would not be surprised if Belarus joins Russia, they're essentially the same people, who desire to be part of Russia.

[Enemy of the State]

Belarus is moving further away from Russia every day. They've yet to recognize the "states" of Abkhazia and South-Ossetia and are showing signs they no longer want to be on the leash of Moscow.

[CarbEast]

Belarus is moving further away from Russia every day. They've yet to recognize the "states" of Abkhazia and South-Ossetia and are showing signs they no longer want to be on the leash of Moscow.

There are no "they" in Belarus politics. All the signs and wants belong to one person. He was never too loyal to Russia, but I assure you he isn't stupid enough to prefer Western leash over Moscow's, because he know it quite well the day when his power depends on West is the last day of his reign.

[Dromikaites]

Belarus is a full blown dictatorship. Though initially its ruler Lukashenko toyed with the idea of joining the Russian Federation in the last years he seems to have changed his mind on the subject.

Officially the people there speak a language distinct from Russian though in practice Russian is the most widely used language.

[Chlodwig I.]

No
its a souverign Dictatorship

[ivan_the_terrible]

It's actually interesting, he seems to be fairly benevolent, as far as dictators go. The Belarussians I've met (ok, I've only met several, but still) seem pretty fond or at least tolerant for him.

Democracy is all well and good, but at least their dictator prevented a few people from stealing everything, like everywhere else in the former SU. Like the saying goes "Communists stole, but at least they shared a little".

Belarus might not be a democracy, but life is far better than anywhere else in the former SU. Fair trade-off for many, it seems.

[0N3]

historical russia, yes... modern, no...their politics are too different to merge.

[Nikitn]

Lyukashenko is a whore who will sell himself to anyone for 50 roubles. That said, he is a capable administrator. And no, Belorussia isn't part of Russia.

[Admiral Piett]

Lithuania should reconquer the lands!

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/histo...ltics_1701.jpg

[nemgod]

and then come together with Poland to reform the Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth

[ivan_the_terrible]

and then come together with Poland to reform the Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth

And lose all their lands to the Polish Crown...

[RomanSoldier9001]

Belarus is not Russia as I see in some posts they have their own people is like comparing Ukranians and Russians.
Belarus has its own history and as history of separatism from Russia in WWII for example most of "Russians" Volunters in Waffen SS were form Belarus so Belarusians. The idea was if Germany had won war in East USSR would end and Belarusians tougth that they could have a country of their own in spehere of influence of Germany of course as history shows Germany lost the war and Belarus was still in Soviet Union after the war but their nationalism separatismhas never dissapear.
After the end of USSR in paper Belarus was a free and independent country tougth with rise to power of Lukashenko a communist that still saw things as USSR so he saw Russia as the sucessor state of USSR and still in pratical USSR , in part is true Russia still works more or less as communist country most of todays "ruling class" were part of Communist Party , Red Army or KGB in Soviet Time for example Puttin.
Lukashenko has made Belarus pretty much Russia , I think even the Armed Forces are the same rigth know and de facto Belarus ceased to be a independent country.

[Heathen Hammer]

Belarus is not Russia as I see in some posts they have their own people is like comparing Ukranians and Russians.
Belarus has its own history and as history of separatism from Russia in WWII for example most of "Russians" Volunters in Waffen SS were form Belarus so Belarusians. The idea was if Germany had won war in East USSR would end and Belarusians tougth that they could have a country of their own in spehere of influence of Germany of course as history shows Germany lost the war and Belarus was still in Soviet Union after the war but their nationalism separatismhas never dissapear.
After the end of USSR in paper Belarus was a free and independent country tougth with rise to power of Lukashenko a communist that still saw things as USSR so he saw Russia as the sucessor state of USSR and still in pratical USSR , in part is true Russia still works more or less as communist country most of todays "ruling class" were part of Communist Party , Red Army or KGB in Soviet Time for example Puttin.
Lukashenko has made Belarus pretty much Russia , I think even the Armed Forces are the same rigth know and de facto Belarus ceased to be a independent country.

Considering the fact that Belorus is much better under Lukoshenko than under oligarch regime I found your statement lacking sense. And in the same case as with Ukraine, Belorus was not independent or seperate nation from Russia until earli XX century.

[Nikitn]

First of all, what you say makes zero seance.
Second, Belorussians and Russians are pretty much the same people.

[Random Emperor]

No. Just under Russian influence

[The Noble Lord]

Technically Belarus is not part of Russia but it is very much Russian and pro-Russian. It's president even wanted to have federation of two countries but Putin told him that Belarus can only be Russia's province because of the huge disparities between the two.

[YuriVII]

Belarus' is a made up country. Most people speak Russian at home (more than 60 percent) while linguistically similar Belarussian is only 30 percent. I actually just learned that they originated from Polotsk principality of Kievskaja Rus' days. The only difference is that they came under Polish-Lithuanian overlordship instead of Mongolian after the collapse of Kievskaja Rus'. I think the only time that region had real independence (from anyone) was in 1991. Bela (white) Rus' (Rus') = White Russia. As for today, I dont really care if they are part of RF or not. Ask the people, if Lukashenko will let you.

[ivan_the_terrible]

They are most certainly not made up! No more made up than Russians or Ukrainians.

It's true that they were under Polish rule for a long time, but before that they had Lithuania, which they dominated culturally.