Belarusian Democratic Republic

Belarusian People's Republic Белару́ская Наро́дная Рэспу́бліка Bielaruskaja Narodnaja Respublika
1918–1919
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem:  Belarusian: Ваяцкі марш "March of the Warriors"
Status	Partially recognized
Capital	1918  Minsk · Vilna 1918–1919  Hrodna
Capital-in-exile	1919–1923  Kaunas 1923–1945  Prague 1948–1970  Paris 1970–1983  Toronto 1983–present  New York
Common languages	Belarusian minority languages recognized for official usage: Polish Yiddish Russian
Government	Republic
Chairman of the Rada
• 1918–1919	Jan Sierada
• 1919	Piotra Krečeŭski
Chairperson-in-exile
• 1919–1928 (first)	Piotra Krečeŭski
• 1997–present	Ivonka Survilla
Historical era	World War I
• Independence	March 25 1918
• Soviet invasion	January 5 1919
Currency	Ruble
ISO 3166 code	BY
Preceded by Succeeded by Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Lithuanian–Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic Second Polish Republic Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic
Today part of	Belarus Russia Lithuania Poland Latvia

The Belarusian People's Republic, historically called the White Ruthenian Democratic Republic, was a self-declared independent Belarusian state. They said they were independent in 1918. It is also called the Belarusian Democratic Republic or the Belarusian National Republic. This is to be separate from the Communist People's Republics. The BNR was recognized by several Central Powers and former Russian countries. It was not recognized by most of the international community. They country ended when Belarus went under Soviet control. The Belorussian SSR was founded in 1919.

The leaders of the government went into exile. They still say the Belarusian People's Republic is a country.

Presidents

Chairmans of the Council of BNR:

• Jan Sierada (1918–1919)
• Piotra Krečeŭski (1919–1928)
• Vasil Zacharka (1928–1943)
• Mikoła Abramčyk (1944–1970)
• Vincent Žuk-Hryškievič (1970–1982)
• Jazep Sažyč (1982–1997)
• Ivonka Survilla (1997–present)