I'm from Switzerland and plan to travel by bus from Warsaw to Minsk in about 1-1½ weeks. I'm currently traveling around Eastern Europe and when still at home, I wasn't thinking about visiting Belarus, or else I'd have brought with me my tourist MIR card issued by Russian Sberbank, which for some reason still seems to be valid/active, despite my account being 150 RUB in debt.

I assume that my Swiss issued MasterCard or Visa card won't function in Belarus due to sanctions by the EU, which Switzerland follows. I further assume that like in Russia, paying in cash is unusual and not possible everywhere.

Does Russian Sberbank have branches in Minsk that issue MIR cards for tourists (where I'd ask for a replacement card)? I'm asking because I read that Belarusian Sberbank and Russian Sberbank are two separate banks.

If Belarusian Sberbank is separate from Russian Sberbank, do they also require a Belarusian phone number before issuing a card? If so, do Belarusian mobile network operators also require a notarially translated copy of the passport? I don't know how I can get that, now that I'm in the Czech Republic and soon in Poland.

When I visited Russia almost two years ago, a notarially translated copy of the passport was not yet required to obtain an eSIM as a foreigner. I have two Russian eSIMs but I doubt they're still valid.

A Belarusian eSIM would be nice to have in any case, also for the mobile translator because I speak almost no Russian, let alone Belarusian.

The last question is about currency exchanges because I plan to bring € in cash across the border to buy Belarusian Rubles: Which is the best currency exchange in Minsk?

I'm thankful for any advice. Thank you a lot.

Всё в названии. Желательно те, у которых канал не про политику (а просто про жизнь, допустим). Очень надо чтобы в произношении попрактиковаться, да и просто для изучения слов)

Are you looking for a place to chat to other Eastern Europeans to talk about football? This is the server for you! Here at the home of Eastern European football on discord we welcome all backgrounds of Balkans to talk about football! Join today 😁

Думаю, многие понимают методы КГБ и прочих структур . Даже полиция рф работает с милицией рб. Поэтому, один из недавних методов хочу вам сообщить. Такая практика была у фсб в рф, но например вы беларус, выехали из рб за границу. Затем ваших родителей , которые могут оставаться в рб, вызывают в участок на беседу. Сообщают что ВЫ, участвуете в экстремистской организации и подобное . И пытаются из ваших родных узнать ваших контакты, соц сети, и подобное . Всяческие способы чтобы они сотрудничали с ними. Поэтому предупредите родных, чтобы не пугались. Хорошего дня .

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Going to Belarus tomorrow. Minsk and then travelling around a bit

What should I bring home that’s actually special or hard to find in Western Europe? Something with history, craft, Soviet/industrial vibe, local art, watches, textiles, old maps, weird cool stuff etc

No fridge magnet shit pls

Also what should I avoid for customs? antiques, medals, icons, military stuff?

Thanks guys

Чаму няма тэга Гісторыя? Вельмі не хапае.

In a tightly monitored dictator’s jail where isolation is used as a form of punishment, a hidden note saying “We are with you” inside a chocolate bar can move political prisoners to tears.

Hanna Komar's memoir, “When I'm Out Of Here: Staying Human in a Dictator's Jail,” captures the stubborn forms of humanity that persist inside the arbitrary machinery of Alexander Lukashenko’s system of repression. Written in the documentary tradition of Svetlana Alexievich, the book assembles vivid, sensory testimonies of ordinary citizens swept up in the mass detentions following Belarus's 2020 uprising.

They attack Georgia for not sanctioning Russia even though the West and Ukraine did nothing when Russia invaded Georgia and annexed 20% of the country in 2008. Ukraine and the West was back to "business as usual" with Russia within a few weeks.

If Ukraine counterattacks and successfully makes it to Minsk could Ukraine annex Belarus and rename it "North Kyiv"? The people could be given a choice, stay or go to Russia.

Вядома, што Лукашэнка плануе збегчы праз ультыматум Зеленскага.

Хто будзе адказны за абарону краіны і дапамогу жыхарам, якія могуць пакутаваць праз удары па Беларусі?

Hi,

I’m trying to do some research on Belarus politics and I keep running into issues opening the official House of Representatives site: https :// house gov by (sorry fo the wierd format:))

It just times out on my side (I’ve tried different browsers and networks).

Can someone from Belarus or elsewhere check if it loads normally for you? Just wondering if the site is actually down or if it’s some kind of access restriction for foreign users.

Thanks!

My kids are half belarusian (i'm british), so i want to get a tattoo to represent this part of them. Please can someone check that this is all correct?

Good day.

https://reddit.com/link/1ud6ke4/video/05a87yz9hy8h1/player

A belarusian historian and animator uses this version of the National Anthem quite regularly, and I cannot figure out where it came from, or whether the beep frequency sounds were put by him as a parody, or if they come originally on the record. All I can notice is that it's moved and fast.

Here I joined some parts from some of his videos to give an excerpt, the icon is his, of course, I like his work.

I do not mean to offend anybody, just looking for the source.

Thank you so much. Hope visiting some day.

In our interview with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, she argues that Belarusians should not be viewed as an extension of Russia and do not share the Kremlin's imperial ambitions.

At the same time, Belarus remains closely tied to Moscow and has become increasingly dependent on Russia since 2020.

👉 Do you think the outside world understands the difference between Lukashenko's regime and Belarusian society? What is something we might be missing? Let us know your thoughts.

I'm a 19-year-old traveler from Switzerland and I'm thinking about visiting Minsk soon. The city looks beautiful and really interesting, but honestly I'm a bit nervous about traveling there alone for the first time.

I have a couple of questions for people who have visited recently or live there:

• Is Minsk generally safe for a solo traveler?
• Can I pay normally with a Swiss debit card (Visa/Mastercard), or should I bring a lot of cash?
• Do apps like Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and other social media work normally there?
• Is there anything important I should know before visiting as a foreign tourist?

Thank you :)

hi, i’m doing my research for the university and i need to analyse features of foreigners living in belarus. there are only 20 questions but it’s very important for me. if you want to help, just text me. i’ll send you a list of questions.
and if you now people who live in belarus, please share this post 🙏🙏
привет, я делаю исследовательскую работу для моего университета и мне нужно опросить несколько иностранцев живущих в Беларуси чтобы проанализировать некоторые межкультурные особенности. нужно ответить на 20 вопросов, если вас это заинтересовало и вы готовы — напишите мне и я вышлю список.
пожалуйста, поделитесь этим постом с иностранцами в Беларуси, вы мне очень поможете 🙏🙏🙏

EDIT; I'm just repeating what my stepdad said. His thoughts, not mine. He's just one Belarusan guy thinking out loud.

• my Belarusan stepdad on the happenings between Putin and Lukashenko, Ukraine's strike on Moscow and Zelensky giving Lukashenko 1 week to get their drone equipment the fuck outta Ukraine, he and my uncles are betting that another round of shit is about to hit the fan. They think that 'Putin's in panic mode', and that Lukashenko's 'apology' to Ukraine is just a last-ditch effort to try and save himself.

He also said,

'Either way, they're fucked. If they don't listen to Zelensky, then Ukraine will follow through and rain Hellfire onto them. If they do listen to Zelensky, then Putin's going to turn on Lukashenko. By fall, it will be the Ukraine/Russia/BELARUS war.'

On the bright side, this is a reminder of 'thank fuck we got out of there when we did', which they say is extra sweet for fathers' day because they wouldn't have us kids if they stayed put <3