The link between Nottingham and Minsk was established in 1966. There has always been an emphasis on sharing technical expertise to enhance the lives of the citizens. The strong humanitarian element to the relationship is reflected through the Lord Mayor's Aid for Minsk Appeal charity fund. Most recent work has involved the refurbishment of an orphanage in close collaboration with the 'Open Hands Nottingham' charity as well as school links.

Minsk is the capital of the Republic of Belarus. Having been destroyed by Napoleon and again during the Second World War, the city has been virtually constructed anew. Consequently Minsk is a modern city characterised by its wide boulevards, large squares and parks, and contemporary architecture. It is the Republic’s most significant industrial and scientific centre as well as being regarded as a city of culture and learning.

With the 1991 Declaration of Independence, when Minsk became the capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), embassies opened, and joint ventures began with foreign companies and trade representatives. Minsk now holds its position as the republic's biggest industrial, scientific and cultural centre.

Minsk can also be considered a city of learning, based on the esteemed reputations of the Academy of Sciences and Belarus State University, together with 14 other higher education institutions. Countless theatres, the Picture Gallery of Belarus and the Museum of Dance combine to make Minsk a cultural centre, whose highlight is the Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. Sixty years of performances have made this one of the best ballets in the former Soviet Union, rated by many as equal to the Moscow Bolshoi.

For more information, visit: www.minsk.gov.by