Page 170 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World

Europe

Belarus

Ratio: 1:2 Adopted: May 16, 1995 Usage: National and Civil

Red and Red and
white are green were
traditional the colors
Belarussian of Belarus’s
colors flag while it
was a Soviet
republic

A national ornament
representing woven cloth

Europe
,ITHUANIA
,ITHU Belarus, formerly White Russia, became
,ITHU
,ITHUUA
2USS &ED
"%,!253 independent of the USSR in 1991, although its
"%,!253
0OLAND
ties with Russia are increasing once more.
5KRAINE
The original flag of Belarus while were derived from the arms of the
under Soviet administration in 1922 republic. The design was rejected in
was similar to that of the USSR. It a referendum in 1995.
was changed in 1951, and the flag The flag of Belarus adopted
used today is similar to this second following the referendum, reflects
flag, except that the communist its growing ties with Russia. The
hammer, sickle, and star have been unusual ornamentation in the hoist
removed, and the red and white is described as a national ornament
portions of the hoist ornamentation and represents woven cloth.
have been reversed.
ARMS OF BELARUS
THE REJECTED DESIGN The Soviet-style coat of arms,
Following independence from the retained on independence, also
USSR in 1991, Belarus adopted a reflects the dominant Russian
flag of three equal horizontal stripes influence. This depicts an outline
of white-red-white. This was the of the state against a sun rising
same flag which had been associated from behind a globe. This is
with a brief period of Belarussian entirely surrounded by wreaths
independence in 1918 and its colors of wheat and flowers.

166