Alexander Lukashenko said that he does not rule out recognizing of Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region as independent “as long as I understand and [Vladimir] Putin tells me there is a need for it”.

Russian media quoted the President of Belarus as questioning however whether there was “some kind of vital necessity” for recognizing the two regions as independent, during an interview Russian journalist Vladimir Solovyov.

In 2009 Belarus was considering to recognize Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, but Alexander Lukashenko then said he rejected the recognition because Russia refused to share negative consequences, including sanctions expected for Belarus from the West in case of such decision.