Alexander Lukashenko

He is the first US secretary of state to visit the country for a quarter of a century.

Police cordoned off the Kuropaty mass grave as bulldozers removed dozens of crosses.

Provides an overview of Belarus, including key events and facts about this east European country

Those on death row in Belarus know they will be executed but never when - and then no-one will be told.

Hundreds were detained in protests on Saturday against the tax on "social parasites".

Demonstrators opposed to a tax on the under-employed take to the streets despite a ban.

The bill requires people not in full-time job to pay $250 as compensation for lost tax revenues.