It has been ruled with an increasingly iron fist since 1994 by President Alexander Lukashenko. Opposition figures are subjected to harsh penalties for organising protests.

In early 2005, Belarus was listed by the US as Europe's only remaining outpost of tyranny.

Belarus remains defiant in the face of Western pressure

The country became independent in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

More than a decade later, the sense of national identity is weak, its international isolation is intensifying and the nature of political links with Russia remains a key issue.

In the Soviet post-war years, Belarus became one of the most prosperous parts of the USSR, but with independence came economic decline. President Lukashenko has steadfastly opposed the privatisation of state enterprises. Private business is virtually non-existent. Foreign investors stay away." (BBC)

I glanced over at Karl and turned to look the President in the eye. "Sir, we've given them virtually nothing," I said, "because we have had virtually nothing new to give." The President had been looking down at some papers about the event, but his head jerked up. "Nothing? What do you mean we've given them nothing?" He glared. "Don't we have new money in programs like the Compassion Fund thing?"

I looked again at Karl. He seemed stunned at what I was saying. "No, sir," I told the President. "In the past two years we've gotten less than $80 million in new grant dollars." The number fell shockingly short of the $8 billion he had vowed to deliver in the first year alone." (Time)

This rant is awesome - I find it hillarious.

"So when you look back and put all my documented POVs together, an ugly picture starts to emerge. I want to live in an homogeneous society, have a brutal military that ignores Geneva Conventions, tortures our enemies, mows down entire civilian populations to assure we get the resistors disguised as civilians, stands up un-democratic dictators to do our bidding in the third world, suppress the ability of our citizens to undermine our military strategy, allows no dissent from citizens who dont have the best interests of our nation as a whole having a say in policy, and militarize our borders, shooting everyone we catch trying to cross them.......Basically it appears that I want to live in China, Russia, or maybe even North Korea. Apparently I am a Commie at heart and just didn't know it." (Redneck Texan)

If you were coming in the fall
I'd brush the summer by
With half a smile and half a spurn
As housewives do a fly.

If I could see you in a year
I'd wind the months in balls
And put them into separate drawers
Until their time befalls.

If only centuries delayed
I'd count them on my hand
Subtracting 'till my fingers dropped
Into Van Diemen's land

If certain when this life was out
That yours and mine should be
I'd toss life yonder like a rind
And taste eternity.

But now all ignorant of length,
Of times uncertain wing,
It goads me like the goblin bee
That will not state its sting!

(Emily Dickinson)