William Courtney, adjunct senior fellow at RAND Corporation and former U.S. ambassador to Georgia and Kazakhstan, discusses Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko's "visit" in occupied Abkhazia.
- Speaking to ET, William Courtney noted that Lukashenko is under increasing pressure from Moscow and may be more willing to do its bidding.
„One cannot be sure of the reason, but the visit is likely not accidental. Lukashenko is under increasing pressure from Moscow and may be more willing to do its bidding. At present, Moscow seems frustrated that Abkhazia acts somewhat independently.
So the Kremlin might think that if Abkhazia joins the Union States, it will have more ways to lean on Belarus to follow its guidance“, William Courtney said.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in occupied Abkhazia and met with its de facto leader Aslan Bzhania in Bichvinta on September 28. Georgian Foreign Ministry summoned the Ambassador of Belarus to Georgia following the visit.
The ministry demanded that Belarus respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally-recognized borders and not take actions that contradict the fundamental principles of international law.
The president of Georgia accused Lukashenko of violating bilateral relations and international law by visiting Abkhazia.
Asked about Lukashenka’s visit to Abkhazia during a 28 September briefing, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price reiterated the U.S. steadfast support for Georgia and its territorial integrity.
Russia recognised the `independence` of the two regions on August 26, 2008, following the five-day Russia-Georgia war.
Belarus does not recognize the independence of occupied Abkhazia.
- The Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, stated that Lukashenko is not a legitimate President of Belarus.
