Belarus’s Ambassador to Russia Vasily Dauhalou is to take part in inauguration of Sergei Bagapsh, the president of the unrecognized republic. Besides heads of the Russia regions, the ceremony will be attended by ambassadors of Nicaragua and Venezuela, the countries that recognized independence of Georgia’s breakaway regions.
According to ITAR TASS, the inauguration of Sergei Bagapsh takes place in the building Abkhazian State Philharmonic Hall on February 12. Before the ceremony, the head of Abkhazia and head of the Federation Council speaker Sergei Mironov will lay flowers to the Glory Memorial in the center of Sukhumi.
According to Christian Bzhania, the official spokesman for unrecognized Abkhazia, 14 Russian regional governors, president of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity, leader of Dniester region Igor Smirnov, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov are to attend the ceremony.
The fact that Vasily Dauhalou takes part in the ceremony looks at least odd, as Belarus hasn’t recognized Abkhazia yet.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka declared in September last year that Belarus would recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Most independent experts regarded this statement as flirting with the European Union to get loans.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka said in March 2009 at a meeting with Sergei Bagapsh:
"The Russian President and I have already discussed economic issues that have relation to this region and to Belarus. There are many matters to discuss, first of all those economic ones. After all, there appears much work to do after gaining independence. We would be happy if Belarus’ involvement could help solve more issues in this region."
In August 2009, Lukashenka met with the leaders of the unrecognized Caucasian republics during his trip to Sochi. By order of Lukashenka, members of the House of representatives paid a visit to Abkhazia and South Ossetia in November.
De jure, a question of recognizance of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will be considered by the Belarusian Parliament at best in April, but de facto, the republics seem to have been recognized.
