VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Minsk (old name Mensk) was first mentioned in chronicles in association with the Battle on the Nemiga River in March 1067. The city was then an outpost on the southern border of the Principality of Polotsk. Later it became the centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1919, the city obtained the status of the capital of the Byelorusian SSR.
Minsk lies on the banks of the Svisloch River that empties into the Berezina River.
The total area is 229 square kilometers with a population of 1.7 million. Belarusians account for more than 70% of the population, other nationalities include Russians, Poles, Ukrainians, Jews, and others.
Minsk has the status of an independent administrative and territorial unit. It is divided into nine administrative districts. Minsk City Council headed by Mikhail Pavlov, Chairman of the City Executive Committee, is the governing body.
Being almost destroyed during the Great Patriotic War, Minsk acquired today's look after the war. One of the most interesting quarters in Minsk is the Upper town, ascending from the banks of the Svisloch River to Ploshchad Pobedy (Freedom Square). Two main churches of two main confessions in Belarus are found here — the Orthodox Saint Spirit Cathedral and the Catholic Saint Virgin Mary Cathedral. Other major architectural and historic monuments include the Trinity and Rakov suburbs, St Peter and Paul Fortress that was founded in 1613, and the house where the 1st congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party was held.
The capital of Belarus has a well developed transport infrastructure with three motorway rings. There are two metro lines with 17 stations. A new railway terminal opened on May 1, 2001. The city has a bus terminal and two airports.
Minsk is Belarus's major industrial centre. Leading industries include machine building, metalworking, instrument-making, radio-electronics, and the light and food industries. All of the republic's tractors, motorcycles, bicycles, refrigerators, and other household appliances are produced in Minsk. Major enterprises include the Minsk Tractor Plant, the Minsk Automobile Plant, the Minsk Instrument-Making Plant, the Integral Science Production Association, the Gorizont Production Association, the Atlant Company, and others.
Minsk has 15 higher education institutions including the republic's major university, Belarusian State University.
