Polityczna działalność Misji Wojskowo-Dyplomatycznej Białoruskiej Republiki Ludowej w Rydze w latach 1918–1921
Political Activity of the Military and Diplomatic Mission of the Belarusian People’s Republic in Riga in 1918–1921

Summary/Abstract: So far in the historical studies, the activity of the Military and Diplomatic Mission of the Belarusian People’s Republic in Riga has appeared in the context of relations between Belarus and Latvia during the period of the formation of new states in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Russian Empire, the organisation of Belarusian military units in Latvia, and the activity of General Stanisław Bułak-Bałachowicz. The aim of the article is to analyse the political activity of the Mission that covered the territory of Latvia, Estonia and, to a lesser extent, Finland, against the background of the dynamic political and military situation on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in 1918–1921. The study uses a critical analysis of documents and letters relevant for the history of the Mission. Its findings lead to the conclusion that the most important achievements of the Mission were: obtaining de jure recognition of the Belarusian People’s Republic by Finland and initiating the creation of the Belarusian armed forces on the basis of General Stanisław Bułak-Bałachowicz’s Special Unit, which fought against the Red Army. However, attempts to gain support for Belarusian independence from Great Britain failed.

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