This study aims to review the short history of language situations in Belarus and to examine the changes and consequences of the language policy during the Soviet period and 4~5 years after the independence. 25 years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russian is the national and most important language in Belarus, unlike in other post-Soviet Republics. As a matter of fact, 100% of Belarusians can speak Russian and approximately 5% of people can speak Belarusian fluently. In Belarus, the Russian language holds the status of the state language due to its cultural and historical background, rather than a friendly relationship between Russia and Belarus. More than 80% of the residents are virtually Belarusian-Russians in every public sector and personal activity. Russian is a mandatory language of all secondary schools in addition to the Belarusian. Moreover, the Russian-speaking population of Belarus is treated not as foreigners, but as members of the state, and is seen as part of the state-forming nation. The reason is that the indigenous titular ethnic Belarusians are officially considered to constitute the Republic of Belarus, and Russians are also included as a state-forming nation in Belarus.

Abstract
 1. 서론
 2. 본론
  2.1. 리투아니아대공국과 폴란드 지배 시기의 벨라루스어
  2.2. 러시아합병과 러시아화
  2.3. 소련의 언어정책
  2.4. 독립 벨라루스의 언어정책과 언어상황
 3. 결론
 참고문헌

• 정경택(경상대학교, 경상대학교해외지역연구센터.)