Union State facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Union State
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_-_All_Territorial_Disputes.svg)
The Union State, with disputed territories in light green
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| Headquarters | 8/5 Staraya Square, Entrance 3, 103132 Moscow, Russia |
| Largest city | Moscow 55°45′N 37°37′E / 55.750°N 37.617°E |
| Official languages | |
| Demonym(s) | Russians, Belarusians |
| Type | Supranational union |
| Member states | |
| Government | Supranational union (currently), confederation (proposed) |
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• Chairman of the Supreme State Council
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 Alexander Lukashenko |
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• Chairman of the Council of Ministers
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 Mikhail Mishustin |
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• General Secretary
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Dmitry Mezentsev |
| Legislature | Supreme State Council and Council of Ministers |
| Supreme State Council | |
| Council of Ministers | |
| Formation | |
| 26 December 1991 | |
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• Commonwealth of Belarus and Russia
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2 April 1997 |
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• Treaty on the Creation of a Union State of Russia and Belarus
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8 December 1999 |
| Area | |
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• Total
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17,332,786 km2 (6,692,226 sq mi) |
| Population | |
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• 2023 estimate
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 159,000,000 |
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• Density
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8.9/km2 (23.1/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2024 estimate |
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• Total
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 $7.203 trillion |
| GDP (nominal) | 2024 estimate |
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• Total
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$2.257 trillion |
| Currency | |
| Time zone | UTC+2 to +12 |
| Date format | dd.mm.yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
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The Union State is a special partnership between Belarus and Russia. It's like a club where two countries work closely together. Their main goal is to become more connected. This includes working together on their economies and defense.
When it first started, the Union State wanted to become a "confederation." This means the countries would be very united but still keep some independence. Today, both Belarus and Russia are still independent countries.
The Union State was created based on a treaty signed on April 2, 1997. Even though only Russia and Belarus are members, other countries can join too. The main leaders of the Union State are the Supreme State Council and other groups. As of 2025, Alexander Lukashenko is the chairman of the Supreme State Council. He has been in this role since 2000. The Union State now focuses on things like shared money rules, taxes, and working together on defense and intelligence.
Contents
How the Union State Started
The idea of the Union State began with earlier agreements. These agreements aimed to bring Belarus and Russia closer.
Early Steps to Unity
The Community of Belarus and Russia was formed on April 2, 1996. This happened after agreements in 1995 that allowed Russian soldiers to be in Belarus. The partnership grew stronger on April 2, 1997. This was when the "Treaty on the Union between Belarus and Russia" was signed. At this time, its name changed to the Union of Belarus and Russia.
More agreements were signed on December 25, 1998. These agreements aimed for even more political, economic, and social unity.
Creating the Union State Treaty
The Treaty on the Creation of a Union State of Russia and Belarus was signed on December 8, 1999. The goal was to create a strong union, similar to the old Soviet Union. This new union would have a shared leader, laws, flag, and even a common army and money.
The Russian State Duma approved the Union on December 22, 1999. The National Assembly of Belarus approved it on January 26, 2000. On that date, the Treaty and the Union officially began.
How the Union State is Governed
The Treaty on the Creation of a Union State sets up the rules. It also creates important groups that help run the Union.
Main Governing Bodies
The Union State has several main groups:
- Supreme State Council: This is the highest decision-making body.
- Council of Ministers: This group handles daily operations.
- Union Parliament: This group makes laws.
- Court of the Union: This court settles legal disagreements.
- Accounting Chamber: This group checks how money is spent.
The Union State has power over creating a single economy. This includes shared markets, money, and tax rules. It also handles defense equipment and military support. They also work together on border policies.
The Union State and its member countries share other responsibilities. These include:
- Working together on defense.
- Making their laws similar.
- Developing science, education, and culture.
- Sharing information.
- Managing migration.
- Improving working conditions and social security.
- Fighting terrorism and corruption.
If something is not specifically handled by the Union State, then Belarus and Russia keep their full power over it.
Leaders of the Union State
Pavel Borodin was the first State Secretary of the Union. He served from 2000 to 2011. After him, Grigory Rapota held the office.
The Supreme State Council leads the Union State. It includes the leaders of both countries, their governments, and members of their parliaments. Decisions are made with each country having one vote. The president of the Supreme State Council is usually one of the country leaders, taking turns.
The Supreme State Council makes decisions about the safety of the member states. This includes protecting them from outside threats and guarding their borders. It also covers military development and other important matters.
The Council of Ministers includes the Prime Ministers, Foreign Affairs Ministers, Economy Ministers, and Finance Ministers of both countries. It also includes the State Secretary of the Union. The current president of the Council of Ministers is Mikhail Mishustin.
Union Parliament
The Union Parliament is supposed to have two parts: the House of the Union and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives would have 75 members from Russia and 28 from Belarus. These members would be elected by the people.
Currently, only the House of the Union is formed. It has 72 members: 36 from Russia and 36 from Belarus. Until the House of Representatives is elected, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia acts as the Union State Parliament.
The House of the Union Parliament meets twice a year. At least two-thirds of its members must be present for decisions to be made. The current president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union is Vyacheslav Volodin.
Languages in the Union State
The official languages of the Union State are the languages of Belarus and Russia. Russian is used for daily work in the Union State's main offices.
Key Developments
After the Union State started, both countries seemed less excited about it. They even brought back customs checks at their border in 2001. This stopped their customs union until it was restarted in 2010. There were also plans for a common currency, but this has been put off many times.
Common Currency Plans
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko once promised a common currency by January 1, 2004. This did not happen, and the plan was delayed several times. In 2006, the head of the National Bank of Belarus said a common currency might be ready in 2007, but it wasn't.
Citizenship and Travel Freedom
The Union State allows citizens of both countries to be "citizens of the Union." This means people from Russia and Belarus can travel and live freely in the other country. They can work or study there without needing special immigration steps. They still use their own national passports.
Military Cooperation
Since 2009, Russia and Belarus have worked together on military training. They have a joint military group called the Regional Forces Group. This group helps them train and work together on defense. The military rules of Russia state that an attack on Belarus is like an attack on the Union State. This means Russia can respond to such an attack. In December 2024, Russia and Belarus signed a treaty about mutual security.
Proposed Symbols
The Union State does not yet have its own flag or coat of arms. However, there have been some ideas for them.
Flag Ideas
Two flag ideas have been suggested. Both are similar to the old flag of the Soviet Union. They are red flags with two gold stars in the corner. These stars would represent the two member states.
Coat of Arms Idea
A proposed coat of arms is a changed version of the double-headed eagle. This eagle would hold the coats of arms of both Russia and Belarus.
Anthem Idea
A song called "Sovereign Union of Nations" has been suggested as the Union's unofficial anthem. It is based on the National Anthem of the Soviet Union.
Recent Developments: Nuclear Deterrence
In May 2023, President Lukashenko said that other countries could get nuclear weapons if they joined the Union State. This statement came after Russia began moving some of its tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus.
25th Anniversary of the Union State Treaty
On December 6, 2024, Russia and Belarus celebrated 25 years since the Union State Treaty was signed. On this day, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a new treaty. This treaty expanded their cooperation on defense and security within the Union State.
See also
In Spanish: Unión de Rusia y Bielorrusia para niños
- Commonwealth of Independent States
- Continental union
- 2007 Russia–Belarus energy dispute
- Post-Soviet states
- Soviet Union
- New Union Treaty
- Belarus–Russia relations
- Eurasian Economic Union
- Common Travel Area, an arrangement allowing for relatively open borders between the United Kingdom and Ireland
- 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship
- European Single Market, a similar zone within the EU
- Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, a similar agreement between Australia and New Zealand
Images for kids
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Presidents Alexander Lukashenko and Boris Yeltsin signing the founding treaty of the Russian-Belarusian Union in Moscow, April 2, 1997
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Russian postage stamp celebrating the Treaty between Russia and Belarus, April 2, 1996
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20th Anniversary of Russia Belarus Union Treaty stamp from Belarus
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Proposed flag of the Union State
