Union State

This article is about the post-Soviet organization. For the 19th-century rump state, see Union (American Civil War). For subnational division, see Union territory (disambiguation). For other, see Union (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with State of the Union or Union State Bank (disambiguation).

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
• Upper house
Supreme State Council
• Lower house
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
Drives onright
Website
soyuz.by/en
  1. ^ Combined Belarus and Russian numbers, excluding annexed Crimea in March 2014 that is not recognized internationally.

The Union State of Russia and Belarus,[b] officially also referred to as Union State,[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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