Belarusian Democratic Republic

The Belarusian Democratic Republic (BDR) was a short-lived independent state declared in 1918 amid the chaos of World War I and the Russian Revolution. It aimed to establish Belarus as a sovereign nation with democratic governance and independence from foreign control. Although it existed only briefly and was never internationally recognized as an independent country, the BDR became a symbol of Belarusian national identity and aspirations for sovereignty. Its government went into exile after Soviet forces regained control, and today it is remembered as a key symbol in Belarusian history and the struggle for independence.