I would never go to Belarus if not for my friends, and I’m sincerely glad I did. I have been there four times so far. Although I would never consider living there, I find Minsk, the capital, very rewarding. If you live in a big city and feel tired of it, you might want to check out Minsk. The most amazing thing about it is that it is very hard to guess how many people live there. It is impossible to tell that 2.6 million people run this place. The streets are quite empty, even in central.
In fact, it is the last European country to have a dictatorship. The current President Alexandr Lukashenko runs the country for more than 20 years now and is not going anywhere. Although life is very hard for independent journalists, opposition and business owners, everyone else seems to be quite happy to be living in Minsk.
It is surprising that the country still has the death penalty, even when in neighbour Russia there is none. The relationship between this two nations is strikingly profound. For Russia having a dictator neighbour is a great deal, simply because it’s simpler to maintain than, say, pro European Ukraine.
Unlike Russians and Ukrainians people in Belarus seem to be very calm. Although most of the people do not support the regime, most of them are not willing to protest. The latest revolt in Belarus happened in 2017. Many of protesters were beaten or imprisoned. It always makes me wonder when people will say ‘Enough is enough’, when there’s going to be a breaking point. For this reason, Belarus reminds me of North Korea, although it is not fair to compare these regimes as Korea has it so much worse.
What am I deeply like about Belarus is people. Among all the Eastern European countries I have been to, Belarusian people are the kindest and the calmest. Young people seem to be aware of a political scene not only in Belarus but worldwide. Older people leave an impression of quite educated people. One of the deepest political talks I had in my life with a stranger happened with Belarusian Uber driver. It always amazes me how much they know about political games around their country. If I disagree with them, they will always listen carefully and respect my opinion. It is such a rare skill among any people, including Europeans.
To be fair, there are some things I like about Minsk authorities. City streets are unbelievably clean. Although there is plenty of USSR-period buildings, all of them are freshly painted. When the streets are free from trash, it is easier to pay attention to what surrounds you. Minsk architecture is unique in its own way but very typical for the post-USSR country.
Shopping in Minsk is almost impossible, western brands are barely represented so looking stylish while living in Minsk is quite an operation. From the other side, the food here is great. Belarusian, Japanese, Italian or US cosines are well presented in all price ranges. I would definitely recommend visiting Minsk if you are tired of a quick tempo of your city. It is hard to find anything as calming as relaxing as Minsk atmosphere.
