Georgia’s breakaway region to supply wines to Belarus

February 28, BPN. Belarus will import wines from Gerogia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia, Russia’s Prime reported citing Inal Ardzinba, foreign minister of the self-proclaimed Abkhaz republic.

Businesses are reportedly working on contracts.

Cooperation plans also include other imports from Abkhazia, Belarusian dairy exports as well as possible joint investment projects in tourism, Ardzinba said.

Alaksandr Łukašenka met Abkhaz leader Aslan Bzhania in Minsk on February 21, with the Belarusian ruler saying that relations between Belarusians and Abkhazians “can promote peace and friendship between Abkhazians and Georgians.”

Back in 2008, Russia was involved in an armed conflict with Georgia and supported separatist movements in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Belarus has not yet officially joined the small list of countries that recognize Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia as an independent state.

In early February, Łukašenka said that he might recognize the independence of the two self-proclaimed republics should Russian President Vladimir Putin ask him to do it.