A flat, marshy country with around 11,000 lakes, Belarus holds a haunting beauty that is a unique experience for all who visit. Though the country has experienced a rocky road economically, recent years have seen growth and this trend will hopefully carry on in the future, with the possibility of a more open market pushing the nation to a brighter future.

Belarus has a history of tragedy, oppression and occupation, stretching back to the end of the 18th century when the country was part of the Russian Empire. Belarus declared independence in 1918, towards the end of the First World War, but this was short lived and the country fell back under Russian control in 1919. What was then christened the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic went on to become the founding member of the USSR. The country soon faced a tragic period in its history, when more than a hundred thousand intellectuals and political opponents were ordered executed by Stalin in the 1930s. A decade later and the Nazis were occupying the country, during which nearly the entire Jewish population was eradicated from the land as more than a million people were killed. At the end of the Second World War the Germans were forced out by the Red Army and Belarus once again came to be under the wing of the Russians, and over the following few decades the country established itself as one of the most economically prosperous nations of the Soviet Bloc. In 1986 another tragedy struck the country as more than 60 percent of the nuclear fallout from the Chernobyl reactor explosion landed in Belarusian territory, making a fifth of the agricultural land in the country unusable and displacing more than 200,000 people, as well as inflicting large radiation doses on hundreds of thousands – the ramifications of this incident are still being felt through the affection regions even to this day. Belarus once again declared independence in 1991 when the fall of the Soviet Union came about, and the capital Minsk became headquarters for the Commonwealth of Independent States – the successor to the Soviet Union.

Since the mid 90s the country has been under increasing scrutiny from the EU and the US, as the practices of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko and his government come into constant question, with allegations of unfair elections and that the republic state is actually a dictatorship being voiced by a number of parties, both national and international. Aside from this controversy, the government has been moving to integrate Belarus more with Russia, so much so that suggestions of the country acceding to be a part of the Russian Federation have been bandied around, though so far rejected. It is clear to see that Belarus was once one of the most promising of the former-Soviet nations, with a strong economy with which to build upon, but an increasingly insular attitude coupled with allegations of government corruption and human rights abuses have tarnished the country for the time being – so much so that in early 2005 the country was listed by the US as Europe’s last remaining ‘outpost of tyranny’.

Maybe not a place most would consider visiting or investing in, but the problems of Belarus stem from the government, not from its people – they are naturally friendly and welcoming, and any visitor to the country is treated as an appreciated guest. The massive amounts of marshland accommodate all manner of wonderful flora and fauna and should be of interest to any budding explorers, and coupled with the sometimes beautiful scenery and architecture there should be enough sights to please anyone. With an economy on the rise after turbulent years as well as rising property prices, now would be the time to capitalise on potential property developments – the possibility that Belarus will join with Russia under one government and the arranged single currency to be implemented in 2008 both indicate future economic strengthening for a country that is on the move – albeit slowly.

The standards of healthcare in the major cities of Belarus are decent, but standards in more rural areas and smaller towns can be desperately poor as the healthcare system has been in a constant decline since the 1970s. Reforms are underway and government spending on health is increasing, so changes will become apparent in coming years, but right now treatment for more serious ailments should be obtained elsewhere. The UK has a reciprocal agreement with Belarus, meaning British nationals receive free treatment on production of a valid passport. Health insurance is highly recommended for any visits.

Mobile phone coverage is good in towns and cities, but does not stretch elsewhere into rural areas. Landlines are widespread throughout and are generally of a decent quality. There are a few internet cafes in Minsk as well as access being available in some post offices – otherwise coverage is sparse at best.

General banking hours in most areas are from 0900 to 1700 Mondays to Fridays, normal office hours are from 0900 to 1800, Monday to Friday and shopping hours are normally 0900 to 2000 Monday to Saturday.

Handshakes are the normal form of greeting, and formal attire is expected at business meetings. Meetings should be arranged well in advance and confirmed shortly before they occur as a gesture of politeness. The Belarusian people are friendly and welcoming as a part of their traditions, so reciprocating this attitude will reap benefits.

A tip of ten percent is normal, though some larger hotels and restaurants in Minsk automatically add a ten to fifteen percent service charge in bills.