Unlike people in many former soviet states, many belarussians when the soviet union dissolved.

Wanted to maintain close ties with Russia.

Explanation:

The process of separating from the Soviet Union was very different depending on the specific countries we talk about. Every country reacted differently due to their historical, social and economic context. In some places, the dominant feeling was that of independence, and people wanted to distance themselves and their country from Russian influence. However, many Belarussians wanted to maintain close ties with Russia when the Soviet Union dissolved.