The so-called Foreign Ministry of occupied Abkhazia positively assesses the statement of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on the recognition of the occupied territories of Georgia.

"The Republic of Abkhazia welcomes the statement of the leader of Belarus on the possibility of recognizing the sovereignty of the Abkhaz state. Abkhazia is open to dialogue with Russia-friendly states that share the just aspirations of the people of Abkhazia," the so-called ministry said in a statement.

According to the de facto agency, they hope that Belarus will follow the example of the strategic ally and recognize Abkhazia.

"We hope that the Republic of Belarus, which shares the basic principles of international law, including the principle of equality and self-determination of the people of Abkhazia, will support the path chosen by the people of Abkhazia to establish a free, independent state," reads the statement.

According to the agency, Abkhazia is interested in establishing official contacts with Belarus.

In an interview with Vladimir Solovyov, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, when answering a question of when Abkhazia and so-called South Ossetia would be recognized, said: "Is there any need for this? As soon as I hear and the president of [the Russian Federation] tells me that there is a need for that ...".