Belarusian and de-facto Abkhaz officials met in Minsk, amid reports that Belarus may recognise Abkhazia's independence.
Inal Gablia, the de-facto Education Minister of Georgia's Russia-occupied Abkhazia, and Security Council Deputy Secretary Daur Kove met with Alexander Shatko, the Chair of public association Belaya Rus, in Minsk, where a preliminary agreement was reached to implement joint projects to bring the two countries' civil societies closer together.
Following the formal meeting, Gablia expressed appreciation to Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials for “helping to promote Abkhazia in the international arena.”
In mid-November, rumours began to circulate on Russian Telegram channels that Belarus would recognise Abkhazia's statehood. At the time, the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed the telegraph channels were disseminating false information.
The claims were also described as "false news" by the Belarusian side, who denied that the Belarusian authorities were considering recognising the independence of Georgia's seized territory.
