The President of Belarus called Sukhum a Georgian city

During the first-ever visit of the head of the Belarusian state to Georgia, Alexander Lukashenko made it clear that his country does not intend to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. At the same time, it follows from the statements of the Georgian leadership that they are not ready to consider the Belarusian leader as a mediator between Georgia and Russia.

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Photo: Reuters / Leli Blagonravova/Georgian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters

Alexander Lukashenko made a statement about Belarus’ attitude towards the former Georgian autonomies of Abkhazia and South Ossetia during a meeting with Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili. “To my shame, I have never been to your country before and have not visited any city in Georgia except Sukhumi,” Mr. Lukashenko emphasized. A little later, he assured that Belarus’ position on the issue of non-recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia “remains unchanged.”

This topic became one of the main ones during the visit of the Belarusian leader to Tbilisi. “Our main pain and concern are the occupied territories and the policy of non-recognition,” Tengiz Pkhaladze, adviser to the Georgian president, explained to reporters. He noted that “support from Belarus (in this matter - Kommersant ) is of great importance.”

How the format of dialogue with Russia split the Georgian leadership

At a press conference in Tbilisi, President Lukashenko stated the need to “start looking for ways to normalize Georgian-Russian relations and in order to somehow build relations between the two countries more gently.” “In the near future, we need to find an answer to the question of what step needs to be taken so that not only the rhetoric in Georgian-Russian relations stops, but also a rapprochement of positions occurs,” the Belarusian leader noted.

At the same time, Tbilisi denied rumors that Alexander Lukashenko allegedly brought some kind of “message from Moscow” and is ready to become a mediator between Russia and Georgia. “The priority is the development of bilateral relations,” Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Irina Imerlishvili told reporters. “The fact that we have chosen the Western path of development does not exclude cooperation with countries that have chosen a different path.

Georgiy Dvali, Tbilisi

Why the West criticizes the agreement between Russia and Abkhazia

The West responded to the call of the Georgian authorities to “give a proper assessment” of the signing of the treaty on alliance and strategic partnership between Russia and Abkhazia. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that this “so-called treaty does not contribute to a peaceful and long-term settlement of the situation in Georgia.” Representatives of the US and EU made similar statements. Read more

Why Georgia is dissatisfied with the signing of the agreement between the Russian Federation and South Ossetia

In March, Geneva hosted the next round of international discussions on security in the Transcaucasus with the participation of Russia, Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as the EU, UN and OSCE as mediators. At the same time, Moscow and Tskhinvali signed a new agreement “On Alliance and Integration,” which was an unpleasant surprise for Tbilisi. However, the Georgian authorities hope that the complete normalization of relations with Moscow will deprive the agreement of all meaning. Read more

Alexander Lukashenko supported the policy of non-recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia