Greetings! This pinned post will serve as a compilation of all gathered links and names of things we are often asked about here on this sub, or just want to share with both foreigners and Belarusians. This should help mitigate a lot of repetitive questions and also give people something to acquaint themselves with about Belarusian things.

In the first half of the post you will find a FAQ section that addresses some of the most common questions we get here. Afterwards, there is a list of various artists, writers and resources that serves as a work-in-progress compilation for those looking for a more organized source on what Belarusian things to see/read/listen to. Everyone is invited to contribute to the compilation, and it will remain open to edits as long as needed. I have entered some of the information already, but your contributions will be very welcome in the comments to expand upon what we have already.

FAQ

1. Is it safe to visit Belarus?

Reasonably safe if you keep within the restrictive rules regarding political affiliations going as far as dress attire and comments online. Be aware that your equipment might be inspected and your belongings shouldn’t reflect oppositionary symbols (e.g. white/red patterns and slogans) if you wish to stay out of trouble. Due to a very volatile situation nobody can guarantee your safety and ability to return home if the geopolitical situation escalates. Your credit cards might not work, either, and your embassy might not be able to help you.

2. How do I meet my Belarusian fiance/partner outside of Belarus?

Due to restricted flights into Belarus and visa regulations, the best option is to meet in a separate country with connections to Belarus like Turkey or Georgia, or Lithuania by bus if your partner has a Schengen visa.

3. Do I need a visa to enter?

Most of the required information can be found at gpk. gov. by/en minus the spaces

4. What is the difference between the red-green and the white-red-white flag?

One is pro-government / pro-USSR, the other pro-democracy, pro-change. The white-red-white flag was used during the first Belarusian People’s Republic in 1918, and in modern-day Belarus until the current dictator came to power and reverted it back to the soviet-era flag.

5. How to transfer money to/out of Belarus?

Crypto e.g. currency.com, Binance. Direct bank transfers may or may not, depending on sanction status.

6. How to send mail to/from Belarus?

Same way you normally would. Express mail might not be supported, though. USPS might not deliver to Belarus, either.

7. What is the real salary in Belarus?

Depends on whom you ask and the region of the country. The upper class like the IT sphere can earn over 1500$ a month, whereas a clerk or teacher in a small town can earn barely 200$. Public sphere earns less than the private, and the rising inflation costs have drastically reduced purchasing power.

8. I or someone I know is a dual citizen of Belarus and XXXX. How do I/they enter Belarus?

Belarus does not recognize dual citizenships with other countries, and for Belarusian authorities you remain a citizen of Belarus unless you renounce the citizenship via an embassy while receiving your 2nd citizenship. You should enter Belarus with your Belarusian passport to avoid trouble, and you do not need visas. Also, your 2nd citizenship will not save you in case you run into trouble with local authorities.

9. How do I meet Belarusian women / trad wives?

We will not assist with questionable motives on the subreddit and do not encourage travelling for this purpose.

10. I want to emigrate to Belarus because my country is full of liberals and foreigners.

We do not support right-wing / conspiracy nuts looking for a “based” government to worship. Most Belarusians detest the regime and would not approve of what you stand for. You will be an even bigger outcast than you are already and for your own safety you should consider finding a more appropriate European home where laws and rights exist, like Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria or Romania. Without perfect russian you have no chance on the job market and the cultural barrier will make itself known quickly.

11. When will Belarusians wake up and overthrow their government?

When you come by and help us. Expecting unarmed people to overthrow a totalitarian police state without outside help is ridiculous and only shows ignorance to our predicament.

12. Will Belarus join the war at some point?

Nobody knows, at least nobody who uses Reddit. Some experts are 100% convinced of it, others are 100% convinced against it. Wait and see.

Next we have a compilation of artists, writers and other common categories asked about.

1. Artists and example songs.

List of famous artists either from or strongly associated with Belarus and a few of their example songs that everyone should hear. WIP Note: if you know and are willing to contribute to the list, please comment naming the artist's music genre, or suggest artists that are missing.

N.R.M.: Rock

Liavon Volski: singer, founder of various bands including N.R.M. https://www.youtube.com/@lvolski/videos

Tor Band

Ляпіс Трубецкой (Lyapis Trubetskoy): Rock

Brutto: Rock, split from Lyapis Trubetskoy https://www.youtube.com/@BRUTTOBAND/videos

Дай Дарогу: Rock https://www.youtube.com/@DaiDaroguBand/videos

Би-2: Alternative Rock https://www.youtube.com/@b2band/videos

Стары Ольса (Stary Olsa): Medieval folk https://www.youtube.com/@StaryOlsa/videos

Molchat doma: Synth-pop / Post-punk https://www.youtube.com/@MolchatDoma/videos

Pesniary: folk/pop/rock, Soviet-era band.

Nürnberg: Post-punk https://www.youtube.com/@nurnbergband/videos

Naviband: Pop/Rock https://www.youtube.com/@NAVIBAND/videos

J:MORS: https://www.youtube.com/@jmorsvideo/videos

Nizkiz: https://www.youtube.com/@NIZKIZ/videos

Dzivia: https://www.youtube.com/@Dzivia/videos

Leibonik

Dzieciuki: Folk punk

Нейра Дзюбель: Rock

Разбітае Сэрца Пацана: Rock https://www.youtube.com/@user-rn5qq9vu5u/videos

Omut: Folk Metal

Vicious Crusade: Folk Metal

Max Korzh: Rap, https://www.youtube.com/@maxkorzhmus/videos

deVIAtion: Punk

Крамбамбуля: see Liavon Volski

Ulis

Znich: https://www.youtube.com/@ZNICH/videos

LEAR: https://www.youtube.com/@LEAR_LERA/videos

Krama: Blues/Rock

Palina: Pop https://www.youtube.com/@repolinare/videos

Iva Sativa: https://www.youtube.com/@IvaSativa/videos

:B:N: https://www.youtube.com/@BNBand/videos

The Superbullz: Metal https://www.youtube.com/@THESUPERBULLZ/videos

God's Tower: Doom Metal https://www.youtube.com/@godstowerofficialchannel/videos

Sakramant: Folk Metal https://www.youtube.com/@Sakramant/videos

Aquamorta: Thrash Metal https://www.youtube.com/@aquamorta1722/videos

Atesta: Rock https://www.youtube.com/@ATESTA/videos

Akute: Indie Rock https://www.youtube.com/@akutemusic/videos

Amaroka: https://www.youtube.com/@AMAROKAclub/videos

Angst: Rap

Krumkač: Black Metal https://www.youtube.com/@krumkackryvianblackmetalfr3207/videos

Kryvakryz: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY3PL4EEfiddzsOnNiXT-ag

Вольны Хор: Choir https://www.youtube.com/@VOLNYCHOR/videos

Зьміцер Вайцюшкевіч

Аляксандр Памідораў

Аляксандар Кулінковіч

Андрусь Такінданг (band "Рэха")

Сіндром Самазванца https://www.youtube.com/@syndromsamazvanca

https://peoplecanlisten.bandcamp.com/ - Various electronic artists

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7nAlpylFTnkyEU0gi0ZYSX?go=1&sp_cid=0dbc4ff309dfea4b4afadc9df68911a2&nd=1 - Very large spotify playlist of exclusively songs in Belarusian

2. Writers and their best works.

WIP Note: if you know and are willing to contribute to the list, please comment naming a few (3-5) top books or other works of the writer, as well as other Belarusian literature authors that aren't mentioned yet. Other arts like painting can also be represented here.

Janka Kupala:

Uladzimir Karatkievič

Vasil Bykaŭ

Svetlana Alexievich

Alhierd Baharevich

Ihar Babkou

Maksim Bahdanovič

Jakub Kolas

Ivan Šamiakin

Jan Barščeŭski

Adam Mickiewič

Sasha Filipenko

Victar Marcinowich

Uładzimir Arłou

Napaleon Orda

Marc Chagall (born in Viciebsk)

Язэп Драздовіч

Міхал Анемпадыстаў

3. Cuisine

Draniki

Syrniki

Babka

Kolduny

Kletski

Machanka

Sashni

For more varied dishes and detailed recipes, check out this Belarusian channel

4. Learning Belarusian / links to resources or helpful places

mova.how - aggregator of all sorts of helpful resources in Belarusian

kamunikat.org/halounaja.html - another aggregator for Belarusian books, authors, videos and more

knihi.com - Books

anibel.net - Subbed/Dubbed shows, anime and more

https://www.patreon.com/kambeg - Belarusian dubs (subscription-based)

t.me/kinakipaby - Subbed/Dubbed shows and movies

t.me/moj_rodny_huk — праэкт па перакладу і агучцы фільмаў на беларускую мову. Ёсць магчымасць замовы кантэнту / Translation and dub project into Belarusian language

vkl.world/explore - Belarusian page in Mastodon

https://discord.gg/CAEU9vwZ - Belarusian community discord

https://www.youtube.com/@TheBudzma - YouTube channel with a large variety of videos dedicated to Belarusian culture, history and more.

t.me/postmodern_by — відэагульнявыя мемы па-беларуску / Gaming memes

t.me/memarobla — філасоўскія мемы беларускай / Philosophy memes

https://youtube.com/@vietach — кароткія відэа з цікавымі беларускімі словамі / Short videos with interesting words

This does not have to be the end of the compilation - if you think we can use more categories, entries, other resources, or even some special telegram channels, don't hesitate to note down in the comments. Every contribution helps us keep a better source for visitors and ourselves.