Government: Democracy, with president and unicameral legislature, Supreme Soviet, both popularly elected. Government composed of president and Cabinet of Ministers. Procuracy headed by prosecutor general. New constitution adopted March 28, 1994; went into effect March 30, 1994.
Politics: Political parties and movements generally quite small. They include Belarusian Popular Front, Party of Communists of Belarus, Communist Party of Belarus, United Democratic Party of Belarus, Belarusian Social-Democratic Assembly (Hramada), Belarusian Peasant Party, Belarusian Christian-Democratic Union, Slavic Council "Belaya Rus'", and a number of other parties.
Foreign Relations: Recognized by more than 100 countries (late 1992). Nearly seventy had some level of diplomatic relations. First recognized by Romania. Belarusian diplomatic presence abroad limited. Relations with Russia overshadow domestic and foreign policy. Relations with Ukraine weak. Relations with Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia friendly.
International Agreements and Memberships: Member of United Nations (founding member), World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Commonwealth of Independent States, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (until January 1995 known as Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe), North Atlantic Cooperation Council, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (observer status). Declared ineligible for membership in Council of Europe because of election laws and practices.
Data as of June 1995