Belarus first proclaimed independence towards the end of World War I, but it was short-lived as the Red Army invaded soon after. From 1918 Belarus was part of the USSR, suffering hugely during Word War II as over one million people died during a three year German occupation. In 1991 Belarus declared its independence, as the Soviet Union broke up. However Belarus retains closer political and economic ties to neighbouring Russia than any other former Soviet republic. Belarus first entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004, but failed to make it out of the semi-final. In 2005, Belarusian television made more effort, sending one of the country's biggest music stars and commissioning a song from a team of top Greek songwriters, but despite starting as a pre-contest favourite, they once again failed to make it to the final and in 2006 Belarus suffered a third successive semi-final failure. 

Official name: Republic of Belarus

Total area: 207,595 km².

Population: 9.8 million (UN, 2005)

Capital: Minsk

Major language: Russian, Belarussian (both official)

Major religion: Christianity

Life expectancy: 68 years

Monetary unit: 1 Belarussian rouble = 100 kopeks

GNI per capita: US $2,760 (World Bank, 2006)

Internet domain: .by

International dialling code: +375

 

1956-2003: Did not enter

2004: "My Galileo" - Alexandra & Konstantin (19th in the semi-final)

2005: "Love Me Tonight" - Angelica Agurbash (13th in semi-final)

2006: "Mum" - Polina Smolova (22nd in the semi-final)

2007: Will compete in the semi-final

Eurovision broadcaster: BT (Belaruskaja Tele-Radio Campanija)
First entry: 2004
Number of entries: 3
Number of winners: -
Top 3 finishes: -
Top 10 finishes: - 
Best result: 13th in semi-final (2005) 
Worst result: 22nd in semi-final (2006) 
Number of last place finishes: -
Highest score: 67 in the semi-final (2005)
Lowest score: 10 in the semi-final (2004 & 2006)
Number of contest hosted: -

Most points awarded to: Russia: 36, Ukraine: 20, Serbia & Montenegro & Switzerland: 10
Most points received from: Belarus has yet to perform in the Eurovision final.
Least points awarded to: Belarus has not voted for the following countries in threee finals; France, Germany, FYR Macedonia.
Least points received from: Belarus has yet to perform in the Eurovision final.
Average points awarded to the Eurovision winner: 5.7

Points Ratio#: 0

* Only points awarded and received in finals since 1975 are included.
# Points ratio is total points received in Eurovision finals divided by points awarded. The higher the number the better a country has done.