CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS IN BELARUS (HISTORY AND THE PRESENT)

The legal (constitutional) history of Belarus is analyzed. Different points of view on the development and formation of the Belarusian statehood are addressed. Works by domestic, Russian, Polish and Lithuanian authors expressing their views on the history of the Belarusian people were used. The attention is focused on the influence of the Statutes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania on the development of the Belarusian sovereign law. It is noted that there are at least two Belarusian approaches to the assessment of the Belarusian statehood. The first approach is a Soviet inheritance; according to it, the Belarusian statehood started January 1, 1919 following the proclamation of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Byelorussia in Smolensk. According to the second approach, the Belarusian statehood dates back to many centuries ago and begins no later than the time of the Principality of Polotsk. New opportunities for the development of Belarus as an independent state emerged in the late 1980s. That period was marked by the beginning of transformation in the relations between the USSR and its Union Republics and the growing activity of citizens and public associations; at that background, there started the process of reforming the political, economic and legal systems. Law needed to be substantially updated at that time. The article highlights the most important laws passed at that period by the supreme body of state power in Belarus. These laws finalized the legal enshrinement of the independence. These include fundamental legal acts such as the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Belarus, the Law on Basic Principles of Democracy in the Republic of Belarus and the new Constitution of Belarus adopted in 1994 following over three years of preparation. All this allows making a complete picture of the development of the constitutional process in Belarusian lands. It is inseparable from the historical process of the development of the Belarusian people and its statehood.

constitutional process, history of Belarus, constitutional development, Declaration of State Sovereignty

1. Tatishchev V. N., Istoriia Rossiiskaia: v 6 tomakh, T. 3 [Russian History: in 6 volumes, vol. 3], USSR (Leningrad Branch.), Moscow, Leningrad, RU, 1964.

2. Ilovaiskii D., “Great Novgorod and Belarus”, Russkii vestnik [Russian Gazette], 1864, no. 8, pp. 70–74.

3. Danilovich I., “Look at the Lithuanian legislation and the Lithuanian Statute”, Iuridicheskie zapiski, izdavaemye P. Redkinym [Legal notes issued by P. Redkin] 1841, vol. 1, pp. 1–46.

4. Koialovich M. O., Istoricheskoe issledovanie o Zapadnoi Rossii, sluzhashchie predisloviem k dokumentam, ob”iasniaiushchim istoriiu Zapadno-Russkogo kraia i ego otnosheniia k Rossii i Pol’she [The historical study of Western Russia, serving a foreword to the document explaining the history of the West Russian region and its relations with Russia and Poland], SPb, RU, 1855.

5. Koyalovich M. O., Lektsii po istorii Zapadnoi Rossii. Novoe izdanie, pererabotannoe i dopolnennoe s 1 izd. 1864 g. [Lectures on the history of Western Russia. A new edition, revised and supplemented with 1 edition 1864], St. Petersburg, RU, 1884.

6. Vladimirskii-Budanov M. F., Obzor istorii russkogo prava: Lektsii [Review the history of Russian law: Lectures], Phoenix, Rostov-on-Don, RU, 1995.

7. Liubavskii M. K., Litovsko-russkii seim: opyt istorii uchrezhdeniia v sviazi s vnutrennim stroem i vneshnei zhizn’iu gosudarstva [Lithuanian-Russian Diet: Experience the history of the institution in connection with the internal structure and external life of the state], Moscow, RU, 1903.

8. Liubavskii M. K., Ocherk istorii Litovsko-Russkogo gosudarstva do Liublinskoi unii vkliuchitel’no. S prilozhenim teksta khartii, vyd. Velikomu kniazhestvu Litovskomu i ego oblastiam [An outline of the history of the Lithuanian-Russian state to the Union of Lublin inclusive. With the text of the charter, ed. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and its regions], Islands ist. and the ancient Rus, Moscow, RU, 1910.

9. Liubavskii M. K., Osnovnye momenty istorii Belorussii [Highlights of the history of Belarus], Moscow, RU, 1918.

10. Lappo I. I., Velikoe kniazhestvo Litovskoe vo vtoroi polovine XVI stoletiia, Litovsko-Russkii povet i ego seimik [The Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the second half of the 16th century, the Lithuanian-Russian poet and his seymic], type. C. Matthiessen, St. George’s, 1911.

11. Lappo I. I., Velikoe kniazhestvo Litovskoe za vremia ot zakliucheniia Liublinskoi unii do smerti Stefana Batoriia (1569–1586), Opyt issledovaniia politicheskogo i obshchestvennogo stroia, T. 1 [Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the time of the conclusion of the Union of Lublin to the death of Stefan Batory (1569–586), research experience of political and social order, vol. 1], SPb, RU, 1901.

12. Maksimeiko N. A., Seimy Litovsko-Russkogo gosudarstva do Liublinskoi unii 1569 g. [The Seimas of the Lithuanian-Russian state to the Union of Lublin in 1569], Kharkiv, UA, 1902.

13. Malinovskii I. A., Rada Velikogo kniazhestva Litovskogo v sviazi s boiarskoi dumoi drevnei Rossii. Ch. 1–2, Ch. 1 [Lithuanian Council of Lords in relation to the Boyar Duma of ancient Russia. Part 1–2, Part 1], Tomsk, RU, 1903.

14. Dovnar-Zapol’skii M. V., Gosudarstvennoe khoziaistvo Velikogo kniazhestva Litovskogo pri Iagellonakh, T. 1 [State economy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the Jagiellonian, Vol. 1], Kyiv, UA, 1901.

15. Leontovich F. N., Spornye voprosy po istorii russko-litovskogo prava [Controversial issues on the history of Russian-Lithuanian law], St. Petersburg, RU, 1893.

16. Leontovich F. N., Ocherki istorii litovsko-russkogo prava. Obrazovanie territorii Litovskogo gosudarstva [Essays on the History of the Lithuanian-Russian law. Education territory of the State of Lithuania], St. Petersburg, RU, 1894.

17. Taranovskii, F. V., “Review sites Magdeburg Law West Russian cities Lithuanian era: Historical legal research”, Varshavskie universitetskie izvestiia [Warsaw University News], 1897, vol. 7–9.

18. Liubavskii M. K., Osnovnye momenty istorii Belorussii [Highlights of the history of Belarus], Moscow, RU, 1918.

19. Lastovskii V. Iu., Karotkaia gіstoryia Belarusі [A Brief History of Belarus], Unіversіtetskae, Minsk, BY, 1992.

20. Іgnatoўskі, U. M., Karotkі narys gіstoryі Beldarusі [A brief sketch of the history of Belarus], 5nd ed., Belarus, Mіnsk, BY, 1991.

21. Doўnar-Zapol’skі, M. V., Asnovy dziarzhaўnastsі Belarusі [The foundations of statehood of Belarus], Gorodnia, BY, 1919.

22. “Thus, the Lithuanian researcher Stanislav ON Lazutka in the work devoted to the status ON, published in 1994, wrote that the Belarusian researchers since 1960 sick “childhood disease of national ambitions,” and do not wish to name the statutes “Lithuanian Statute”. Op. By: Stanіslaў Lazutka. Statutes (1529, 1566, 1588) ix i stvaralnіkі era”, Edge. Polonica. Albaruthenica. Lithuanica, 2001, no. 1–2, p. 98.

23. Bely A., Khronіka Belai Rusі. Narys gіstoryі adnoi geagrafіchnai nazvy [Chronicle of White Russia. Outline of the history of a place name], “Entsyklapedyks”, Minsk, BY, 2000.

24. Picheta V. I., “Lithuanian Statute of 1529 and its sources (with a preface Korolyuk VI)”, Uchenye Zapiski Instituta slavianovedeniia AN SSSR [Scientists Notes of the Institute of Slavic Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences], 1952, vol. 5, pp. 243–258.

25. Iushkov S. V., Istoriia gosudarstva i prava SSSR [History of the State and Law of the USSR], Moscow, RU, 1940.

26. Sofronenko K. A. (ed.), Istoriia gosudarstva i prava SSSR [History of the State and Law of the USSR], Moscow, RU, 1967.

27. Iukho Ia., “Statutes of Great Duchy of Lithuania”, Polymia [Flame], 1966, no. 11, pp. 125–137.

28. Iablonskis K. I. (ed.), Statut Vialіkaga kniastva Lіtoўskaga 1529 g. [Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1529], AN BSSR, Minsk, BY, 1960.

29. Iukho Ia. A., Karotkі narys gіstoryі dziarzhavy і prava Belarusі: Vuchebny dapamozhnіk [A Short History of State and Law of Belarus: Textbook], Unіversіtetskae, Minsk, BY, 1992.

30. Iukho І., Krynіtsy belaruska-lіtoўskaga prava [Sources of the Belarusian-Lithuanian rights], Belarus’, Minsk, BY, 1991.

31. Ermalovіch M., Starazhytnaia Belarus’: polatskі і novagarodskі peryiady [Ancient Belarus Polotsk and Novgorod periods], Mastatskaia lіtaratura, Minsk, BY, 1990.

32. Ermalovіch M., Starazhytnaia Belarus’: Vіlenskі peryiad. Gіst. dasl. [Ancient Belarus: Vilna period. East. send.], vydavetskі tsentr “Bats’kaўshchyna”: MP “Biasedz’”, Minsk, BY, 1994.

33. Ermalovіch M., Belaruskaia dziarzhava Vialіkae kniastva Dіtoўskae [Belarusian State Grand Duchy Ditovskae], “Bellіtfond”, Minsk, BY, 2000.

34. Kastsiuk M. P., Іsaianka U. F., Shtykhaў G. F. and other, Narysy historyi Bielarusi. U 2-ch., Ch. 1. [Essays on the history of Belarus. At 2 h, Part 1], Belarus’, Minsk, BY, 1994.

35. Vіshneўskі A. F., Gіstoryia dziarzhavy і prava Belarusі (IX – pach. XX st.): Kurs lektsyi [History of State and Law of Belarus (IX – beginning the twentieth century): Lectures], Minsk, BY, 1996.

36. Vіshneўskі A. F., Gіstoryia dziarzhavy і prava Belarusі: Vuchebny dapamozhnіk [History of State and Law of Be-larus: Textbook], Ekaperspektyva, Minsk, BY, 2000.

37. Saganovіch, G. Narys gіstoryі Belarusі ad starazhytnastsі da kantsa KhVІІІ stagoddzia [Sketch of the History of Belarus from antiquity to the end of the XVIII century], ”Entsyklapedyks”, Minsk, BY, 2001.

38. Kraўtsevіch A. Stvarenne Vialіkaga kniastva Lіtoўskaga [Creation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania], Belaruskaia navuka, Rzeszow, PL, 2000.

39. Doўnar T. І., Razvіtstse asnoўnykh іnstytutaў gramadzianskaga і kramіnal’naga prava Belarusі ў XV–XVI stagoddziakh [The development of the basic institutions of civil and criminal law of Belarus in the XV–XVI centuries], “Propilei”, Minsk, BY, 2000.

40. Doўnar T. І., Pomnіkі prava Belarusі feadal’naga peryiadu [Monuments of law in Belarus feudal period], Іnstytut Suchasnykh Vedaў, Minsk, BY, 2001.

41. Doўnar T. І., Kanstytutsyinae prava Belarusі feadal’naga peryiadu (pa Statutakh Vialіkaga kniastva Lіtoўskaga 1529, 1566, 1588 gg.): Vuchebny dapamozhnіk [Constitutional law of Belarus feudal period (on the Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1529, 1566, 1588.): Textbook], BDU, Minsk, BY, 2001.

42. Doўnar-Zapol’skі M. V., Gіstoryia Belarusі [History of Belarus], BelEN, Minsk, BY, 1994.

43. Turuk F., Belorusskoe dvizhenie. Ocherk istorii natsional’nogo i revoliutsionnogo dvizheniia Belorussov [Belarusian Movement. Essay on the history of national and revolutionary movement in Belarus], Gosizdat, Moscow, RU, 1921.

44. Zneshniaia palіtyka Belarusі: Zbornіk dakumentaў і materyialaў, T. 1 (1917–1922 gg.) [Belarus’ foreign policy: The collection of documents and materials, T. 1 (1917–1922 gg.)], Bel NDІDAS, Minsk, BY, 1997.

45. SZ BSSR, 1990, no. 18, p. 267.

46. SZ BSSR, 1990, no. 22, p. 450.

47. Vedamastsi Viarkhoўnaga Saveta Belaruskai SSR [Statements of the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR], 1991, no. 12/14, p. 129.

48. Vedamastsi Viarkhoўnaga Saveta Respubliki Belarus’ [Statements of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus], 1991, no. 30, p. 494.

49. Vedamastsi Viarkhoўnaga Saveta Respubliki Belarus’ [Statements of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus], 1991, no. 33, p. 603.

50. Vedamastsi Viarkhoўnaga Saveta Belaruskai SSR [Statements of the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR], 1991, no. 28, p. 426.

51. Vedamastsi Viarkhoўnaga Saveta Respubliki Belarus’ [Statements of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus], 1991, no. 30, p. 490.

52. Vedomosti S”ezda narodnykh deputatov SSSR i Verkhovnogo Soveta SSSR [Statements of the Congress of People’s Deputies of the USSR and the Supreme Soviet of the USSR], 1991, no. 37, p. 1082.

53. Konstitutsiia Respubliki Belarus’ 1994 goda (s izmeneniiami i dopolneniiami). Priniata na respublikanskom referendume 24 noiabria 1996 goda [The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus of 1994 (with amendments and additions). Adopted at the republican referendum on November 24, 1996], Belarus’, Minsk, BY, 1997.

54. Vasilevich G. A. (ed.), Pravovye problemy obespecheniia osnovnykh prav cheloveka: sbornik materialov kruglogo stola, posviashchennogo iubileiu professora Georgiia Borisovicha Shishko (Minsk, 4 sentiabria 2015) [Legal problems of ensuring basic human rights: a compendium of the materials of the round table devoted to the jubilee of Professor Georgy Borisovich Shishko (Minsk, September 4, 2015)], Kolorgrad, Minsk, BY, 2015.

55. Vasіlevіch G. A., Doўnar T. І., Iukho І. A., Gіstoryia kanstytutsyinaga prava Belarusі [The history of constitutional law in Belarus], VTAA Prava і ekanomіka, Minsk, BY, 2001.

56. Chudakov M. F., “Belarusian constitutionalism - the two main stages”, in Gushchin I. V. (ed.), Sistema prava i zakonodatel’stva Respubliki Belarus’: sostoianie, perspektivy razvitiia: materialy resp. nauch.-prakt. konf., 26–27 apr. 1999 g., Grodno: v 2 ch. Ch. 1. [The system of law and legislation of the Republic of Belarus: state, prospects for development: materials of Rep. Scientific-practical. Conf., 26–27 Apr. 1999, Grodno: at 2 pm Part 1], Grodno State University, Grodno, BY, 1999, pp. 239–242.

57. Vasilevich G. A., Proekty Konstitutsii Respubliki Belarus’: poisk optimal’noi modeli (1990–1994 gg.) [Drafts of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus: search for the optimal model (1990-1994)], Pravo i ekonomika, Minsk, BY, 2014.

58. Picheta V. I., Istoriia belorusskogo naroda [History of the Belarusian people], Izdatel’skii tsentr BGU, Minsk, BY, 2003.

59. Krutalevich V. A., Ocherki istorii gosudarstva i prava Belarusi [Essays on the history of state and law of Belarus], in Nikitenko P. G., Shirokanova D. I. (ed.), 2nd ed., Pravo i ekonomika, Minsk, BY, 2009.

60. Brygadzіn P. І., Gіstoryia Belarusі ў kantekstse eўrapeiskai tsyvіlіzatsyі : vucheb. Dapamozhnіk [History of Belarus in the context of European civilization: a tutorial], DІKST BDU, Minsk, BY, 2015.