Belarus’s national flag has a red upper field, a narrower green lower field and a vertical red-and-white ornamental pattern at the hoist. The current design is based on the flag adopted after a 1995 referendum and was later refined in law.

What does the Belarus flag look like?

Red occupies the larger upper portion of the flag and green the lower portion. Along the hoist is a traditional ornamental pattern rendered in red on white.

Relationship to the Soviet-era flag

The design is closely related to the flag of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic introduced in 1951. After the Soviet Union collapsed, independent Belarus initially used the historic white-red-white flag. A 1995 referendum replaced it with a modified red-and-green design derived from the Soviet-era flag but without the hammer, sickle and star.

The ornamental pattern

The hoist pattern is based on traditional Belarusian textile ornament. Its presence is one of the most distinctive features of the flag and links the state design with folk decorative art.

Belarus flag facts

• Colors: red, green and white
• Distinctive feature: traditional ornamental pattern
• Current design lineage: 1995 referendum
• Soviet symbols removed: hammer, sickle and star

Reference

Reference: Belarusian legislation on state symbols and the documented 1995 change from the white-red-white flag.