Archie Hayes 
Minsk is the capital and largest city of Belarus, situated on the Svislach and Niamiha rivers. It is the administrative centre of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). As the national capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administrative centre of Minsk Region and Minsk raion (district). In 2012, it had a population of 1,901,700.
