Belarus Capital
Belarus
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 Alexander Lukashenko. Economic and political reform in Belarus has stalled or is being reversed under his authoritarian government. The Government’s human rights record remains very poor and has worsened in some instances; the Government continues to commit numerous serious abuses and to deny citizens the right to change their government. Both Belarusian and Russian are official languages, and Russian is widely spoken throughout the country, particularly in the cities. Tourist facilities are not highly ... [Read More]
Belarus (10/04)
Cities: Capital--Minsk. ... Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF). WNISEF runs a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) credit and capital investment program in Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. However, because of the restrictive environment for private SMEs in Belarus, WNISEF has had no active credit and investment projects in Belarus for the past several years. ... After an initial outburst of capitalist reform from 1991-94, including privatization of state enterprises, creation of institutions of private property, and entrepreneurship, Belarus under Lukashenko has greatly slowed its pace of privatization and other market reforms, emphasizing the need for a "socially oriented market economy." About 80% of all industry remains in state hands, and foreign investment has been hindered by a climate hostile to business. The banks, which had been privatized after independence, were renationalized under Lukashenko. ... [Read More]
Belarus
NGOs operated two trafficking information hotlines; one in the capital of Minsk and a second in Brest, located near the Polish and Ukrainian borders. The hotline in Brest received 1,277 calls in its first year of operation; 66 percent of which were from women. Of the callers, 52 percent had questions regarding employment abroad, and 390 callers said they received proposals to work abroad from friends. The hotline in Minsk received an average of 100 calls per month. ... [Read More]
2004 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Belarus
The Constitution provides for public trials; however, the courts frequently held trials in judges' offices, which prevented interested observers from monitoring certain trials. Judges adjudicate most trials; juries determine innocence or guilt only in the case of capital offenses in which the defendant pleads not guilty and demands a jury trial. Since judges were dependent on the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) for sustaining court infrastructure and on local executive branch officials for providing personal housing, there were widespread and credible reports that executive and local authorities dictated the outcome of trials. ... [Read More]
V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G
Croatia is a country of transit, and to a lesser extent, source and destination country for women and girls trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Victims generally originate in Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other parts of Eastern Europe, and are trafficked into Western Europe. The Government of Croatia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. During the reporting period, Croatia began to intensify efforts to combat trafficking in persons and took nascent steps to improve its response to trafficking. The government implemented targeted law enforcement training and increased its capacity to identify and assist victims. It adopted a national action plan, appointed an anti-trafficking coordinator, and provided direct funds to imple ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
American Embassy - Minsk Post CityLast Updated: 11/28/2003 10:21 AM Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is today a clean manageable city of beautiful well-kept parks, wide streets, both prewar European and postwar Soviet architecture, statues that celebrate the exuberance of youth and towering monuments to a war-torn past. As the political, economic, cultural, and social center of Belarus, Minsk is also the administrative capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). With a population of 1.7 million (one-sixth of the countrys population), the city supports two airports; an efficient underground metro system; respected academic and cultural institutes of higher learning; a modern sports stadium; tranquil botanical gardens; and innumerable museums, theaters, and arenas. ... [Read More]
Independent States in the World
Note 5: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950. The United States, like nearly all other countries, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv. ... of State adds the capital in parentheses. This practice is unofficial and provisional. ... (see note 2)CapitalAfghanistan *+! Islamic Republic of AfghanistanAFKabulAlbania *+Republic of AlbaniaALTiranaAlgeria *+People's Democratic Republic of AlgeriaAGAlgiersAndorra *+Principality of AndorraANAndorra la VellaAngola *+Republic of AngolaAOLuandaAntigua and ... [Read More]
Belarus
Both the 1994 and 1996 Constitutions provide for public trials, although there can be exceptions in cases established by law (for example, in cases of rape or on grounds of national security). The courts increasingly closed trials to observers. The September 11 libel trial of Viktor Ivashkevich was closed to the public (see Section 2.a.). International and domestic observers were also barred from the trials of Pahonia journalists Nikolai Markevich and Pavel Mazeyko (see Section 2.a.). Judges adjudicated trials. Only in the case of capital offenses in which the defendant pleads not guilty and demands a jury trial did juries determine innocence or guilt. Since judges were dependent on the Ministry of Justice for sustaining court infrastructure and on local executive branch officials for providing their personal housing, there were widespread and credible reports that executive and local authorities dictated the outcome of trials to the courts. The Procurator's Office denied ... [Read More]
Judicial Assistance - Foreign Attorneys
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z Afghanistan Albania Argentina Armenia Australia: New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory Australia: Northern Terrritory, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania Australia: Queensland Austral ... [Read More]
Global IQ Quiz – International Education Week 2003
2. Luanda is the capital of which country? ... [Read More]
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