Union State

Union State
  • Союзное государство (Russian)
  • Саюзная дзяржава (Belarusian)
The Union State of Russia and Belarus on the globe, with Russian-occupied territories in light green[a]
The Union State of Russia and Belarus on the globe, with Russian-occupied territories in light green[a]
Headquarters8/5 Staraya Square, Entrance 3, 103132 Moscow, Russia[3]
Largest cityMoscow
55°45′N 37°37′E / 55.750°N 37.617°E / 55.750; 37.617
Official languages
Demonym(s)Russians, Belarusians
TypeSupranational union
Member states
GovernmentSupranational union (currently), confederation (formerly)
• Chairman of the Supreme State Council
Belarus Alexander Lukashenko
• Chairman of the Council of Ministers
Russia Mikhail Mishustin
• General Secretary
Russia Dmitry Mezentsev[4]
LegislatureSupreme State Council and Council of Ministers
Supreme State Council
Council of Ministers
Formation
26 December 1991
• Commonwealth of Belarus and Russia
2 April 1997
• Treaty on the Creation of a Union State of Russia and Belarus
8 December 1999
Area
• Total
17,332,786 km2 (6,692,226 sq mi)a
Population
• 2023 estimate
Neutral increase 159,000,000a
• Density
8.9/km2 (23.1/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $5.3 trillion[5]
GDP (nominal)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $2.2 trillion[5]
Currency
Time zoneUTC+2 to +12
Date formatdd.mm.yyyy
Driving sideright
  1. ^ Combined Belarus and Russian numbers, excluding annexed Crimea in March 2014 that is not recognized internationally.

The Union State,[b] or Union State of Russia and Belarus,[c] is a supranational union consisting of Belarus and Russia, with the stated aim of deepening the relationship between the two states through integration in economic and defence policy.[6][7] Originally, the Union State aimed to create a confederation; however, both countries currently retain their independence.[8]

The Union State is based on a previous international treaty between Russia and Belarus[9] made on 2 April 1997.[10] Although it consists of only Russia and Belarus, other countries are allowed to join.[7] The supranational union is ruled through the Supreme State Council[11] and other governing bodies.[12] As of 2024, the current president of the Supreme State Council of the Union is Alexander Lukashenko, who has held the position since 2000.[13] The present goal of the Union State mainly focuses on economic integration,[14] taxation,[15] and integration of defence and intelligence apparatus.[16]

  1. ^ Pifer, Steven (17 March 2020). "Crimea: Six years after illegal annexation". Brookings Institution. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  2. ^ Chapple, Amos (4 January 2019). "The Kurile Islands: Why Russia And Japan Never Made Peace After World War II". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Постоянный Комитет Союзного государства". postkomsg.com.
  4. ^ "Dmitry Mezentsev appointed Secretary of State of the Union State". postkomsg.com.
  5. ^ a b "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects: October 2020". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  6. ^ "СОЮЗНОЕ ГОСУДАРСТВО". Совет Федерации Федерального Собрания Российской Федерации. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Проект Конституционного акта Союзного государства".
  8. ^ "A Political Union Between Russia and Belarus is Creeping Closer". 23 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Куракина, Светлана Ивановна – Союзное государство Беларуси и России: конституционно-правовое исследование : автореферат дис. ... кандидата юридических наук : 12.00.02 – Search RSL".
  10. ^ "Устав Союза Беларуси и России от 23 мая 1997 – docs.cntd.ru". docs.cntd.ru. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Союзное Государство". Archived from the original on 29 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Органы Союзного государства". belrus.ru.
  13. ^ "Высший Государственный Совет Союзного государства".
  14. ^ "Full integration of Russia and Belarus unlikely in present context, says expert". TASS. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Lukashenko says Minsk and Moscow agreed 26–27 roadmaps on integration". TASS. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Putin believes integration processes of intelligence in Union State to be effective". TASS. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.


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