COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Belarus became an independent republic on August 25, 1991, after the breakup of the Soviet Union.In November 1996, a constitutional referendum, not recognized by the international community, centralized power in the executive branch (president), headed by Aleksandr Lukashenka.Economic and political reform in Belarus has stalled or is being reversed under his authoritarian government.The Belarusian Government's human rights record remains very poor.President Lukashenka gained a third five-year term as president in March 2006, in an election that international observers judged to be seriously flawed. Democratic nations, including the U.S. and EU, condemned the subsequent governmental crackdown on peaceful protests in Minsk , and imposed visa restrictions and other sanctions on senior officials.

Both Belarusian and Russian are official languages, and Russian is widely spoken throughout the country, particularly in the cities.Tourist facilities are not highly developed, but food and lodging in the capital and some regional centers are adequate. You can read full information on this web site: http://travel.state.gov

Geographical position.

Belarus occupies an advantageous economic, geographic and geopolitical position in Eastern Europe at the crossroads of major railways and motor roads, oil, gas and product pipelines and systems of communication between Western Europe, regions of Russia and Asian countries. The territory of Belarus is crossed by one of the major Eurasian ways, including the shortest communication ways from the Central and Eastern regions of Russia to countries of Western Europe, as well as between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. In the west Belarus borders on Poland, in the northwest on Lithuania, in the north on Latvia, in the northeast and east on Russia, and in the south on Ukraine. The distance between the capital of the country, the City of Minsk, and capitals of other states is: 184 km to Vilnius, 468 km to Riga, 558 km to Warsaw, 545 km to Kiev, 706 km to Moscow, and 1060 km to Berlin.
The area of the country is 207,600 sq. km. The longest distance from west to east is 650 km, from north to south 560 km. The terrain of Belarus is predominantly plain with hills: the average elevation is 160 m above the sea level; the highest elevation is 345 m. Administrative division. The Republic of Belarus is divided territorially into six Oblasts (regions) with their administrative centres in Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno and Mogilev. The country includes 118 administrative districts (rayons). The Republic of Belarus includes 110 towns, of which 15 towns have population over 100,000, and 103 urbanised populated localities.

Population of Belarus is 9.799 million people. Over 70 percent are urban population. Beside Belarusians (81.2 percent), the population includes Russians (11.4 percent), Poles (3.9 percent), Ukrainians (2.4 percent) and other nationalities (1.1 percent). The population density is 47 persons per square kilometre. The largest city in the country is its capital, the City of Minsk, with 1.726 million people at the beginning of 2003.

SAFETY AND SECURITY:

Both organized and spontaneous demonstrations occur in Belarus . Localized street disturbances relating to political events occur most frequently in Minsk or larger cities. In some instances, authorities may use force to disperse protesters; bystanders, including foreign nationals, may face the possibility of arrest, beating, or detention. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can sometimes become confrontational and escalate into violence. For this reason, it is recommended that American citizens avoid all demonstrations and protest gatherings.
Security personnel may at times place foreign visitors under surveillance. Hotel rooms, telephones, and fax machines may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched. Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in problems with authorities. These sites are not always clearly marked and application of these restrictions is subject to interpretation.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's web site, where the current Worldwide Caution, Middle East and North Africa Travel Alert, Travel Warnings and other Travel Alerts can be found.
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State's pamphletA Safe Trip Abroad.

CRIME:

Belarus has a moderate incidence of street crime. Though violent crime against foreigners is rare, criminals have been known to use force if met with resistance from victims. Common street crimes, such as muggings and pickpocketings, occur most frequently near public transportation venues, near hotels frequented by foreigners, and/or at night in poorly lit areas.
American citizens and other foreigners in Belarus have also been the victims of car theft, car vandalism, and hotel and residential break-ins. Foreigners visiting nightclubs and discos should pay particular attention to their surroundings, as criminal elements may rob unsuspecting patrons after surreptitiously drugging their drinks. Travelers should keep a copy of their passport in a separate location from their original.

INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the U.S. Embassy in Minsk . If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the U.S. Embassy in Minsk for assistance. The Embassy staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States . The information below concerning Belarus is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
American citizens on short-term visits to Belarus (up to 90 days) are permitted to drive with a valid U.S. state license. U.S. citizens should, therefore, always carry their passports with them to prove date of entry into the country in the event that police stop them. If residing in Belarus for more than 90 days, one should apply for a Belarusian driver's license. Drivers will be required to successfully complete a two-part test in Russian; the first part is a computer-based multiple-choice test on local driving rules, and the second part is a driving test. To receive a local driver's license, drivers will also need to complete a medical exam at a special medical clinic, which will include a general physical, a chest x-ray, and an eye exam.
Radar traps and road construction sites, both often unlit at night, are widespread. Except for a stretch of the main east-west highway, where the speed limit is 100 km/h (60 mph), the maximum speed limit on divided highways or main roads outside village, town or city limits is 90 km/h (55 mph). Speed limits in cities are 60 km/h unless marked and will usually range between 40 km/h and 70 km/h, with frequent radar traps. Visible and hidden dangers exist, including potholes, unlit or poorly lit streets, inattentive and dark-clothed pedestrians walking on unlit roads, drivers and pedestrians under the influence of alcohol, and disregard for traffic rules. Driving in winter is especially dangerous because of ice and snow. Driving with caution is urged at all times.
Radio-dispatched taxi services are generally reliable, arrive promptly once called and usually offer the lowest fare. Most radio-dispatched taxis are metered, although fares can vary greatly and are considerably higher in the late evening and overnight hours. The use of informal taxis or "gypsy cabs" is not recommended.
Minsk has a clean, safe, and efficient subway system that easily reaches most of the city center. Service is stopped briefly during the early morning hours, but otherwise runs regularly throughout the day. Ticket prices are extremely low by western standards. Though their routes are extensive, buses and trolleys lack heating or cooling capabilities and are usually crowded.
Travelers on all public transportation should be wary of pickpockets and other petty crime. For travelers interested in car rental, only one major western rental agency currently operates in Minsk . In general, rental car networks in Belarus are not well developed.
Travelers may experience significant delays (of several hours) in crossing the border by road into neighboring countries.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

Most hotels accept either American Express or Visa credit cards. In addition, one hotel in Minsk , "Planeta", provides cash from Visa credit cards during business hours. Travelers face arrest if they attempt to buy items with currency other than Belarusian rubles. Authorized currency exchange centers are widely available throughout major cities.
ATMs are also available for use, and it has become easier to use credit cards and debit cards in Belarus, especially in Minsk ; however, this does not mean that it is safer to do so. There have been reports of instances in which U.S. citizens have had their card numbers "skimmed" and the money in their debit accounts stolen or their credit cards fraudulently charged. ("Skimming" is the theft of credit card information by an employee of a legitimate merchant or bank, manually copying down numbers or using a magnetic stripe reader.) In addition to skimming, the risk of physical theft of credit or debit cards also exists. To prevent such theft, the Embassy recommends that travelers keep close track of their personal belongings and only carry what is needed when out. If travelers choose to use credit cards, they should regularly check their account status to ensure its integrity.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: 

While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law.  Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.  Persons violating Belarusian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.  Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Belarus are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.  Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

U.S. Citizen Services
Marriage in Belarus
If you plan to get married in Belarus, you must plan ahead. There are several documents you will need to obtain both in the U.S. and Belarus.
Requirements for Marriage
This information is provided for general information only and may not be totally accurate in every case. Questions involving interpretation of specific foreign laws should be addressed to the foreign embassy or consulate, the foreign law division of the Library of Congress, or a foreign attorney.
Note: Only marriages performed at a registrar's office (ZAGS – Office for Matrimonial Acts Registration) are legally valid in Belarus. A church ceremony may be held later, if desired. It is important to remember that all documents submitted must be translated into Russian (or Belarusian) and that the processing, in most cases, will require time. (The application fee and marriage registration service fee is about $7 charged in local currency, and subject to minor cost fluctuations.)
Marriage registration is preceded by filing a marriage application with the ZAGS assigned to the area where the Belarusian fiance'(e) resides. Applications should be filed by both fiance'(e)s who certify their intention to get married by signing the application in the presence of a ZAGS representative. According to Belarusian laws, a marriage can not be registered sooner than 17 or later than 90 calendar days after it was applied for.
Below is a list of documents to be submitted to the registrar's office (ZAGS) by the engaged couple:

• Passport translated into Russian: translation must be notarized by a local notary public.

• Certificate of Free Status (Certificate of Non-Impediment) - required of all foreigners marrying in Belarus. ZAGS offices generally accept an "Affidavit of Free Status" executed before an American Consul in Belarus or before a notary public in the U.S. In the latter case, the affidavit should be translated into Russian and authenticated in accordance with the Hague Legalization Convention, and bear an apostille.

See the State Department web site for additional information on the Hague Legalization Convention and its procedures. Documents issued in the U.S. can be authenticated only in the U.S. The state where the document is issued will need to affix the apostille.
In case the "Certificate of Free Status" lists the American fiance'(e)'s status as "divorced" or "widowed" a divorce decree or death certificate is required. In both instances the document must be translated into Russian and have an apostille affixed to it.
After the marriage is performed, a marriage certificate will be issued by ZAGS. For further use outside Belarus, the certificate should bear an apostille from the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus in Minsk (37a Karl Marx Street, Minsk 220030, tel. +375 (172) 222661; an equivalent of $7 is charged in local currency for each apostille) or at the appropriate Belarusian consulate abroad. We recommend that you do this in Minsk, as otherwise the cost can be prohibitive.
Prior to travel to Belarus, U.S. citizens are urged to review the Consular Information Sheet, and any pertinent Public Announcements or Travel Warnings.
For additional information on fiance'(e) or immigrant visas for a spouse see http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2991.html.