BELARUS has closer political and economic ties with Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics, says the CIA.

       It has an authoritarian government headed by "Europe's last dictator", Alexander Lukashenko, who rules with an iron fist.

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       The Holy Assumption cathedral in Vitebsk, Belarus Credit: Getty Where is Belarus?

       Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe.

       It is bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Lativia

       Is Belarus in the EU?

       Belarus is not in the European Union (EU).

       The bloc is a political and economic union, consisting of 27 member states.

       It operates an internal (or single) market which allows free movement of goods, capital, services and people between member states.

       The EU countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

       Belarus is a landlocked country in eastern Europe, bordered by Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine.

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       Is Belarus a dictatorship?

       Belarus has an authoritarian government dominated by its current - and only - president, Alexander Lukashenko.

       The leader is frequently referred to as "Europe’s last dictator" as he has ruled the ex-Soviet nation of 10million with an iron hand for a quarter of a century.

       Since his election in July 1994 as the country's first and only directly elected president, Lukashenko has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means and a centralised economic system.

       The CIA said: "Government restrictions on political and civil freedoms, freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion have remained in place."

       He has "maintained his grip on power through a secret police and state violence" to quash dissent, says an LSE Department of Government blog.

       Belarus "is no stranger to rigged elections under Lukashenko’s heavy-handed rule", it adds.

       Currently a Belarusian Olympic sprinter is being protected by Tokyo police after she claimed her coaches were forcing her to return to a dictatorship.

       Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was due to compete in the women's 200m race on Monday - but was instead taken to Haneda international airport.

       Officials allegedly bundled the 24-year-old female sprinter to the airport in Tokyo to try to force her back home today - after she publicly criticised her coaches on social media.

       Belarusian athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya talks with a police officer at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Japan EU relations with Belarus

       Since October 2020, the EU has progressively imposed restrictions against Belarus.

       It says these measures were adopted in response to the fraudulent nature of the August 2020 presidential elections in Belarus.

       Also, "they were imposed in light of the intimidation and violent repression of peaceful protesters, opposition members and journalists".

       It added: "The EU does not recognise the results of the Belarus elections, condemning them as neither free, nor fair.".

       The bloc has imposed sanctions against 90 people, including Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko and his son and National Security Adviser, Viktor Lukashenko.

       They "have been identified as responsible for repression and intimidation against peaceful demonstrators, opposition members and journalists in the wake of the 2020 presidential election in Belarus, as well as for misconduct of the electoral process," says the EU.

       What was Belarus called before and when did it become independent?

       Belarus was previously known as Belorussia or Byelorussia.

       Back in 1919, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) was created.

       Although declared a sovereign communist state, it actually joined the Soviet Union three years later.

       Then on September 19, 1991, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic told the United Nations that it had changed its name to Belarus.

       The name of the state was adopted – the Republic of Belarus. It's bordered by Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Ukraine.

       However, during the 2020 uprisings against President Lukashenko, the landlocked country in Eastern Europe was referred to by a different name.

       In the Netherlands, the media published stories about protests in "Wit-Rusland", which translates directly from Dutch to "White-Russia", explains Euronews.

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       The Belarus flag Credit: Getty

       Some other countries, including Germany, also failed to refer to it as Belarus.

       Euronews said that the Dutch Foreign Ministry regards both Belarus and Wit-Rusland as "the same country".

       The Netherlands writes Belarus on official documents, such as treaties, but Wis-Rusland also remains in use as "most of the people in the Netherlands are more familiar with Wit-Rusland than Belarus," said a spokesperson.

       The Belarusian Foreign Ministry has tweeted at international organisations - including the Council of Europe - insisting they use Belarus.

       Lukashenko infamously claimed victory in the August 2020 election, triggering widespread civil unrest - which led to a total internet blackout and shocking police brutality.

       When hundreds of thousands of people took to the street to oppose his oppressive regime, the state responded with extreme violence.

       Belarusian security forces arbitrarily detained thousands of people and systematically subjected hundreds to torture and other ill- treatment, Human Rights Watch said.

       But, says the LSE blog, this hasn't fully quelled pro-democracy efforts, and "Lukashenko’s support from the ruling elite is decreasing as well".

       LATEST ON BELARUS

       MYSTERY DEATH Activist who helped people flee Belarus found dead as sprinter escaped regime

       DEATH THREAT Belarus sprinter warned 'it's the end of you' by state media in 'kidnap' row

       'KIDNAP PLOT' Belarus sprinter protected by cops after 'forced return to dictatorship'

       FAIRGROUND HORROR Moment kids hurled off bouncy castles as wind sweeps them 30ft into air

       GUN NUT Europe’s last dictator and Putin pal Lukashenko wants to ARM all Belarus families

       What's the main religion in Belarus?

       Orthodox is the principal religion of Belarus, with worshippers attending more than 1,000 Orthodox churches.

       Altogether, 25 religious denominations are registered in Belarus, says the Jamestown Foundation.

       Non-orthodox religions in the country include catholic, protestant, Judaism and Islam

       Belarus fighter jet ‘threatened to shoot down Ryanair plane packed with tourists in Russian plot to arrest blogger’