Constitution of Belarus

The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus (Belarusian: Канстытуцыя Рэспублікі Беларусь, romanized: Kanstytucyja Respubliki Bielaruś; Russian: Конституция Республики Беларусь, romanized: Konstitutsiya Respubliki Belarus') is the supreme basic law of Belarus. The Constitution is composed of a preamble and nine sections divided into 148 articles. Adopted in 1994, three years after the country declared its independence from the Soviet Union, this formal document establishes the framework of the Belarusian state and government and enumerates the rights and freedoms of its citizens. However, the United Nations and various observers challenge that the rule of law is respected or that the judiciary is independent in Belarus, highlighting the consolidation of power by the current president.