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39-802: The First Constituent Charter to the peoples of Belarus ( Belarusian : Першая Ўстаўная грамата да народаў Беларусі, Pieršaja Ŭstaŭnaja hramata da narodaŭ Biełarusi ) is a legal and political act issued by the Executive Committee of the Council of the All-Belarusian Congress on 21 February 1918 in Minsk (in the former Governor's House). She called on the Belarusian people to exercise their right to full self-determination, and national minorities — on national and personal autonomy. The microfilmed original of

78-706: A federation with the RSFSR and the adoption of the Soviet Constitution in Belarus in exchange for Russia recognizing the independent status of Belarus, but Lenin did not agree to these proposals. In 1919, a delegation of the Belarusian People's Republic under Prime Minister Anton Łuckievič participated in the Paris Peace Conference , attempting to gain international recognition of the independence of Belarus. On

117-449: A majority). Some of the Jews spoke Russian as their native tongue; others spoke Yiddish . There were attempts to create an armed forces of the newly established Belarusian People's Republic. Belarusian military units started to form within the disorganized Imperial Russian Army already in 1917. According to the historian Oleg Latyszonek , about 11,000 people, mostly volunteers, served in

156-471: Is widely celebrated by the Belarusian national democratic opposition as Freedom Day ( Belarusian : Дзень волі ). It is usually accompanied by mass opposition rallies in Minsk and by celebration events of the Belarusian diaspora organizations supporting the Belarusian government in exile. A national flag of three stripes – white-red-white – was adopted, as well as a state seal ( Pahonia ) based on an emblem of

195-548: The 1994 presidential election , established an authoritarian regime accompanied by a return to Soviet policies in regards to Belarusian language and culture . The Rada BNR still exists as a government in exile and attempts to lobby for interests of the Belarusian diaspora in countries where it has its deputies. Since the late 1980s, March 25, the Independence Day of the Belarusian Democratic Republic,

234-654: The Belarusian Democratic Republic name. It also appears in the publications originating in Belarus. The Belarusian People's Republic appears in publications, however, its use is comparatively limited, e.g. it does not appear in the titles of scholarly publications. After the 1917 February Revolution in Russia, active discussions started in Belarus about either gaining autonomy within the new Russian Republic or declaring independence. Deputies of most Belarusian regions and of different political powers, including

273-469: The Belarusian Democratic Republic , was a state proclaimed by the Council of the Belarusian Democratic Republic in its Second Constituent Charter on 9 March 1918 during World War I . The Council proclaimed the Belarusian Democratic Republic independent in its Third Constituent Charter on 25 March 1918 during the occupation of contemporary Belarus by the Imperial German Army . The government of

312-850: The Belarusian Socialist Assembly , the Christian democratic movement and the General Jewish Labour Bund , formed a Belarusian National Council in late 1917. The Council started working on establishing Belarusian governmental institutions. Both the Bolsheviks and Germans refused to recognize it and interfered in its activity. However, the Germans saw an independent Belarus as part of the implementation of their plan for buffer states within Mitteleuropa . The Bolsheviks had negotiations with

351-611: The Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic controlling the eastern part of Belarus . Despite many members of the democratic government advocating this idea, the proposal was not approved. During World War II , the Belarusian government-in-exile, based in Prague , refused to cooperate with Nazi Germany or with the Belarusian Central Rada , the pro-German puppet government and issued statements in support of

390-636: The Belarusian national flags from the buildings and forbade government officials to leave Minsk. However, in late February, negotiations took place between the Secretariat and the German military administration, as a result of which the occupiers recognized the government of Jazep Varonka as a representation of the Belarusian population. The authorities of the German Empire allowed the Secretariat to operate legally in

429-534: The Grand Duchy of Lithuania . Chairpersons of the Council of the Belarusian People's Republic : In 1998, Belarusian linguist and translator Siarhiej Šupa  [ be ] published a two-volume collection of BNR archives ( Архівы Беларускай Народнай Рэспублікі. Менск-Вільня-Прага-Нью-Ёрк ). The total size of the two volumes is more than 1700 pages. Essentially these are the processed and re-organized documents from

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468-677: The Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia . The Rada (Council) of the BNR moved to Hrodna, the center of a semi-autonomous Belarusian region within the Republic of Lithuania . During the subsequent 1919–1920 Soviet-Polish War , the Rada went into exile and facilitated an anti-Communist struggle within the country during the 1920s. In 1925, the exiled Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic (Rada BDR) discussed relinquishing its authority in favor of

507-631: The dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, similar governments-in-exile of the neighboring countries (Lithuania, Poland and others) handed back their mandates to the corresponding independent governments. Upon declaration of independence of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1990, it was stated then that the Rada was ready to hand its status to a democratically elected parliament of Belarus. The parliament of Belarus of that time had been elected under Soviet rule. However, these plans were dropped after president Alexander Lukashenko , elected in

546-708: The Army of the Belarusian People's Republic. General Stanisław Bułak-Bałachowicz supported the Government of the People's Republic and openly positioned his army as a Belarusian national army. In 1920, his units became a part of the Russian People's Volunteer Army  [ ru ] led by the Russian SR revolutionary Boris Savinkov which established the short-lived Belarusian State  [ ru ] during its actions against

585-527: The Belarusian Council passed the Second Charter declared the establishment of the Belarusian People's Republic. The Council became the provisional government of Belarus and was renamed the Council of the Belarusian People's Republic . On March 25, 1918, the All-Belarusian Congress proclaimed the independence of the Belarusian People's Republic (Bielaruskaja Narodnaja Respublika, abbreviated as BNR). As

624-518: The Belarusian Democratic Republic never had power over the whole territory of Belarus. In 1919, it co-existed with an alternative Soviet Russia -controlled Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia (which later became part of the Lithuanian–Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic ), moving its seat of government to Vilnius and Hrodna , but ceased to exist due to the partition of the whole Belarusian territory between

663-592: The Belarusian Democratic Republic regarding eventual recognition, but later decided instead to establish a pro-Soviet government of Belarus – the Soviet Socialist Republic of Byelorussia . Parallel with negotiations that started between the Germans and Bolsheviks , the Belarusian Council started actively demanding recognition of autonomous status for Belarus , with continuing internal discussions on whether it should become an autonomous region within Russia or declare national independence. On 21 February 1918,

702-488: The Belarusian People%27s Republic Adopted by the Executive Committee of the Council of the All-Belarusian Congress on February 21, 1918 in Minsk . The First Constituent Charter called on the Belarusian people to exercise their right to "full self-determination" and national minorities to exercise national and personal autonomy. Referring to the right of peoples to self-determination, the authors of

741-476: The Belarusian People's Republic signed a treaty with the government of Lithuania in which both states declared to recognize each other and to cooperate together. The government also managed to create between 150 and 350 schools and preparations for the creation of a university in Minsk were initiated. In December 1918, the German army retreated from the territory of Belarus and the Red Army moved in to establish

780-800: The Bolshevik Red Army and the Polish Armed Forces as a result of the Polish–Soviet War of 1919–1921. Currently, its government in exile, the Rada (Council) of the Belarusian Democratic Republic is the oldest still functioning government in exile . In some historical documents, the White Ruthenian Democratic Republic phrase was used initially. In the current scholarship, Belarusian Democratic Republic and Belarusian National Republic names dominate. The Rada BNR uses

819-478: The Council of the All-Belarusian Congress and the release from Bolshevik captivity of the Central Belarusian Military Council (CBMC). The Executive Committee of the Council of the All-Belarusian Congress issued Order No. 1 of 19 February, which stated that it had taken power into its own hands. The new commander of Minsk, appointed by the Executive Committee, Kastus Ezavitau, issued an order that

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858-406: The Council of the All-Belarusian Congress has declared itself the interim government in Belarus. For the first time, the charter did not mention autonomy and the need to remain part of Soviet Russia. Her text in Belarusian and Russian was posted all over Minsk. The beginning, which fixed the text of the document, contained an image of a high sheaf with crossed scythes and rakes and the inscription on

897-580: The German army captured Minsk . On the same day, the Belarusian Council passed the First Constituent Charter declaring the council the only legitimate power on the territory of Belarus. Neither the occupying authorities, nor its government in Berlin, however, were interested in the idea of an independent Belarusian state. On 3 March, Germans and Bolsheviks signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk . On 6 March,

936-678: The German army retreated, the Government of the BNR left Minsk in December 1918 for the Lithuanian Republic, and in the spring of 1919 went into exile. In its Third Constituent Charter, the following territories were claimed for BNR: Mogilev Governorate (province), as well as Belarusian parts of Minsk Governorate , Grodno Governorate (including Belastok ), Vilna Governorate , Vitebsk Governorate , and Smolensk Governorate , and parts of bordering governorates populated by Belarusians, rejecting

975-549: The German army should see calm civilians who did not want a war. Martial law was imposed under paragraph 2 of the order. At the same time, the Polish Military Organisation (PMO) became active in Minsk. On 21 February 1918, the Executive Committee of the Council of the All-Belarusian Congress addressed the peoples of Belarus with the First Charter, which stated: "Our homeland is in a new predicament... We are facing

1014-646: The Minority, mainly in the field of local administration, schooling and publishing. In response to the conclusion of the Brest Peace Treaty on 3 March 1918 between the German Empire and Soviet Russia, the Executive Committee of the Council of the All-Belarusian Congress responded on 9 March 1918 by adopting the Second Charter. The next step was the declaration of independence of the Belarusian People's Republic on 25 March 1918. Constituent Charter of

1053-529: The Red Army. The major military action of the Army of the People's Republic was the failed Slutsk defence action in late 1920. The Council of the BNR, based at that time in Lithuania , sent officers to help organize armed anti-Bolshevik resistance in the town of Slutsk . These events formed the basis of Vasil Bykau 's story and the film based on it " On Black Slash-and-Burn Fields ". During its short existence,

1092-520: The Western Allies . The advance of the Red Army in 1945 forced the BNR's Rada to relocate to the western part of Germany , occupied by British and American troops. In February 1948, the Rada passed a special manifesto, by which it declared its return to activity. In April 1948, the Rada, together with deputies of the Belarusian post-war refugees, held a conference in Osterhofen , Bavaria . After

1131-613: The act is kept in the 325th fund of the National Archives of Belarus . The rapid offensive of the German Empire , which began on 18 February 1918, forced the regional executive committees and the SNC of the Western region and the front on the night of 19 February 1918 to evacuate from Minsk to Smolensk . This contributed to the resumption of the open activities of the Executive Committee of

1170-478: The charter argued that power in Belarus should be formed in accordance with the will of the peoples inhabiting the country. This principle must be implemented through democratic elections to the All-Belarusian Constituent Assembly. Adopted by the Executive Committee of the All-Belarusian Congress on March 9, 1918 in Minsk. The Belarusian People's Republic was proclaimed within the limits of

1209-575: The country. This principle must be implemented through democratic elections to the All-Belarusian Constituent Assembly. In this document, on 20 February 1918 the Executive Committee announced the establishment of the government - the People's Secretariat of Belarus - a temporary executive body of people's power in the region, which on February 21 began to perform its duties. The secretariat included Paluta Badunova , Jazep Varonka (chairman), Tamaš Hryb , Kastuś Jezavitaŭ , Vasil Zacharka , Pyotra Krecheuski , and Arkadź Smolič . The Executive Committee of

First Constituent Charter - Misplaced Pages Continue

1248-412: The fact that our land may be occupied by German troops." The first Charter called on the Belarusian people to exercise their right to "full self-determination" and national minorities to exercise national and personal autonomy. Referring to the right of peoples to self-determination, the authors of the charter argued that power in Belarus should be formed in accordance with the will of the peoples inhabiting

1287-472: The government of Belarus established close ties with the Ukrainian People's Republic , organized food supplies to Belarus from Ukraine and thereby prevented hunger in the country. Beginning in 1918, Anton Łuckievič , the prime minister of Belarus, met with Vladimir Lenin hoping to gain recognition for the independence of Belarus by Soviet Russia. The Belarusian delegation even proposed the creation of

1326-724: The lands of the former Russian Empire, where the Belarusian people live and have a numerical advantage, a free, independent state was proclaimed; it included Mahilioŭ , Mensk , Viciebsk , Belarusian parts of Horadnia , Vilno , Smolensk , Chernihiv and neighboring governorate. The rights and freedoms of the citizens and peoples of Belarus, proclaimed by the Second Constituent Charter of March 9, 1918, were also confirmed. Belarusian People%27s Republic The Belarusian People's Republic ( BNR ; Belarusian : Беларуская Народная Рэспубліка , romanized :  Biełaruskaja Narodnaja Respublika , БНР ), also known as

1365-459: The rim: "PEOPLE'S SECRETARIAT OF BELARUS". On 21 February 1918, power in Belarus was in the hands of the command of the army of the German Empire. On 22 February, she ordered Polish units to leave Minsk and Belarusian units to lay down their arms. In order not to complicate relations with Russia, the German authorities did not recognize the Belarusian government, occupied the headquarters of the People's Secretariat, requisitioned its property, removed

1404-418: The settlement and numerical superiority of the Belarusian people. The rights and freedoms of citizens and peoples of the Belarusian People's Republic were proclaimed: freedom of speech, press, assembly, strikes, allies; freedom of conscience, inviolability of person and premises; the right of peoples to national and personal autonomy; equality of all languages of the peoples of Belarus. Private ownership of land

1443-449: The then split of the Belarusian lands between Germany and Russia. The areas were claimed because of a Belarusian majority or large minority (as in Grodno and Vilna Governorate ), although there were also numbers of Lithuanians , Poles and people speaking mixed varieties of Belarusian , Lithuanian and Polish , as well as many Jews , mostly in towns and cities (in some towns they made up

1482-457: The way to the conference, the delegation was received by Czechoslovak president Tomáš Masaryk in Prague . During the conference, Łuckievič had meetings with the exiled foreign minister of Admiral Kolchak's Russian government Sergey Sazonov and the prime minister of Poland Ignacy Jan Paderewski . In October 1919 the Belarusian People's Republic was officially recognized by Estonia and in December 1919 by Finland . On November 11, 1920,

1521-456: Was abolished, the transfer of land without redemption to those who worked on it was announced; forests, lakes and subsoil were declared state property. The maximum length of the working day was 8 hours. Adopted by the BNR Council on March 25, 1918 in Minsk. The Belarusian People's Republic was proclaimed an independent state. The BNR Rada demanded to revise the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk . In

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