Belarusian National Republic

The Belarusian National Republic (BNR) (Belarusian: Белару́ская Наро́дная Рэспу́бліка, transliterated as Bielaruskaja Narodnaja Respublika, BNR), historically referred to as the White Ruthenian Democratic Republic (German: Weißruthenische Volksrepublik; French: République Démocratique de la Ruthénie Blanche) was a Belarusian state that declared independence in 1918 for less than a year. It was founded on March 25, 1918 in Minsk and replaced by a Communist government on January 5, 1919. In order to distinguish Belarusian National Republic from similarly-named communist republics, it is also known as the "Belarusian Democratic Republic". The BNR was recognized by several Central Powers and former Russian countries, but not by the majority of the international community. It ceased to exist when Belarus was taken under Soviet control by Russian Bolsheviks, and the Belorussian SSR was founded in Minsk to replace it.

Authorities of the BNR later formed a government in exile. As of 2012, the Rada (government) of the Belarusian People's Republic is the oldest existing government in exile (see Government in exile#Current governments in exile).