Over the Hedge Comparing life in Lithuania and Belarus

Fate has made Lithuania and Belarus neighbours from times immemorial. Although the present names the states of Lithuania and Belarus emerged on world maps as late as the beginning of the 20th century, their citizens – Lithuanians and Belarussians – have lived together through joy and flourishing, through famine and wars for many centuries. In the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (13 – 16th c.) and the Republic of the Two Nations (1569-1795) Lithuanians and Belarussians were subject to the same rulers. During the period of the Russian Empire (18th-19th c.) both nations experienced the same sorts of tsarist pressures. The interim period between the two World Wars bore witness to the creation of the common state (the states themselves had never expressed this wish), the so-called Litbel, even though it was shortlived and existed for only a few months. Finally, starting from 1940s, Lithuania and Belarus were the „fraternal“ neighbouring republics of the Soviet Union.

• Рэдактар: 2007
• Выдавец: EESC
• Катэгорыя: Правы чалавека, Пераклады, Грамадзтва
• Кнігазбор: Kamunikat.org