Belarus, officially known as the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country situated in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Historically, the territory of modern Belarus has been inhabited since prehistoric times and was once a major part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and, later, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Following the partitions of Poland in the late 18th century, Belarusian lands were incorporated into the Russian Empire. After World War I, Belarus briefly declared independence but soon became a founding member of the Soviet Union as the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1922. The devastation of World War II left deep scars, with a significant portion of its population lost and many cities destroyed. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Belarus declared independence yet remained closely tied to Russia economically and politically. Since 1994, the country has been ruled by President Alexander Lukashenko, whose government is often accused of authoritarianism and human rights abuses. Despite these challenges, Belarus possesses a rich cultural heritage, blending Eastern European traditions with unique Slavic influences.