Minsk : Ask Biography

Administration

Full name

Minsk

Official name

Minsk

Native name

Мінск, Минск

Country
Subdivision

Belarus

Founded

1067

Government

Mayor

Mikalai Ladutska (acting) (2009 � )

Geography

Total Area

118.8 sq mi (307.895411 km2)

Elevation

919.9 ft (280.4 m)

Demography

Total Population

1836808 (2009)

Density (pop.)

5966/km² (15451.9/sq mi)

Urban (pop.)

2101018

Other information

Time zone

EET (UTC+2)

- Summer (DST)

EEST (UTC+3)

Area code

+375 17
+375 29 (mobile Velcom, MTS or Diallog)
+375 25 (mobile Life)
+375 33 (mobile MTS)
+375 44 (mobile Velcom)

License plate

Home | City | Minsk

Minsk ( , -bemʲinskpron; , -rumʲinsk) is the capital and largest city in Belarus, situated on the Svislach and Nemiga rivers. Minsk is also a headquarters of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). As the national capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is also the administrative centre of Minsk Region (voblast) and Minsk raion (district). It has a population of 1,836,808 inhabitants (2009).

The earliest references to Minsk date to the 11th century (1067), when it was a provincial city within the principality of Polotsk. In 1242, Minsk became a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and it received its town privileges in 1499. From 1569, it was a capital of the Minsk Voivodship in the Polish � Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was annexed by Russia in 1793, as a consequence of the Second Partition of Poland. From 1919 � 1991, Minsk was the capital of the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.