Belarus is a landlocked country situated in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. The capital and largest city is Minsk. Belarus has a mixed economy with state control over many sectors and a significant presence of state-owned enterprises. The official languages are Belarusian and Russian. The country is known for its rich cultural heritage, with influences from its Slavic roots, as well as its historical ties to larger regional powers. Belarus gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since maintained a distinct national identity, marked by its own language, traditions, and political structure. The governance in Belarus has been characterized by authoritarianism, particularly under the long-serving president Alexander Lukashenko. The country has a diverse landscape, including forests, marshlands, and numerous lakes, contributing to its ecological significance in the region.
Belarus boasts a paradoxical internet landscape: on one hand, it has a highly developed network infrastructure with broad access and affordable high-speed connections; on the other hand, it operates under one of the most tightly controlled and censored regimes in Europe. As of 2022, nearly 89.5% of Belarusians were internet users freedomhouse.org, reflecting significant penetration…
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