Q 01/05

What is the capital and largest city of Belarus?

A) Minsk

B) Gomel

C) Vitebsk

D) Brest

Answer · why

A) Minsk

It has special status outside the six regions and was awarded the title Hero City in 1974.

Q 02/05

Which of these countries does NOT border Belarus?

A) Estonia

B) Lithuania

C) Poland

D) Latvia

Answer · why

A) Estonia

Belarus touches five countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Q 03/05

The name Belarus is usually translated as what?

A) Land of lakes

B) White Rus'

C) Northern Rus'

D) Land of the Slavs

Answer · why

B) White Rus'

Theories tie "white" to early Christianisation, white clothing, or lands never conquered by the Tatars.

Q 04/05

Who became president of Belarus in 1994 and was later labelled "Europe's last dictator"?

A) Alexander Lukashenko

B) Stanislav Shushkevich

C) Vyacheslav Kebich

D) Viktor Yanukovych

Answer · why

A) Alexander Lukashenko

The 1994 vote is considered the country's first and only free election; term limits were scrapped in 2004 and he remained in office for more than thre...

Q 05/05

Belarus is the only country in Europe that still does what?

A) Has no railways

B) Carries out the death penalty

C) Bans private car ownership

D) Uses the Julian calendar officially

Answer · why

B) Carries out the death penalty

It is one of only three European countries outside the Council of Europe, with Russia and Kosovo.