The Belarusian People's Republic (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. In order to distinguish it from similarly-named communist republics, it is also known as the "Belarusian Democratic Republic" or the "Belarusian National 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 and the Belorussian SSR was founded in 1919.
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).
Read more about Belarusian People's Republic: History, Exile, Presidents, Symbols, Archives
Famous quotes containing the words people and/or republic:
“... people with heavy physical vibrations rule the world.”
—Margaret Anderson (1886–1973)
“Royalty is a government in which the attention of the nation is concentrated on one person doing interesting actions. A Republic is a government in which that attention is divided between many, who are all doing uninteresting actions. Accordingly, so long as the human heart is strong and the human reason weak, Royalty will be strong because it appeals to diffused feeling, and Republics weak because they appeal to the understanding.”
—Walter Bagehot (1826–1877)