Expert: Lukashenko is blackmailing the West, but he is unlikely to be able to get what he wants

Regnum -- A group of deputies from the Belarusian parliament, formed to study the possible recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, set off to the region on November 17 to acquaint themselves with the situation. Of the 12 members of the group, 6 have gone to Georgia and 3 each to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, their entry into the two republics having been previously agreed with the Georgian leadership. Also worth noting is that in Tbilisi the Belarusian MPs will be received by a number of senior Georgian government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. On November 18 leading IMEMO researcher Alexander Krylov commented on the situation for Regnum News. 
 
Lukashenko has again found a way to demonstrate his independence in the international arena. Belarus and Russia seem to be parts of a Union State, but we see that Lukashenko is conducting his own policy and, therefore, the integration trend is now frozen, in fact, it is going backward.
 
The question of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has been raised many times in the parliamentary institutions of the Union State, and corresponding resolutions have been adopted. There have been both promises and declarations from Lukashenko that the matter will be resolved in the near future. In non-public conversations, the Belarusian president has generally said that there is no problem and that soon the two republics would be recognized. But then it turned out that for whatever reasons this process is delayed.
 
Now this issue is again turning into a demonstration of independent policy. In this respect, is quite remarkable that the last burst of news on the topic was related to a statement of the Belarusian authorities advising their citizens to visit Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia, which is virtually impossible. Thus Minsk unequivocally made it clear that it is still recognized the sovereignty of Georgia over the two republics, despite their recognition by Russia. And now this issue will be discussed precisely with Georgia, which still claims that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are parts of it occupied by Russia.

What benefits will the Belarusian parliamentarians derive from their trip? Naturally, they will get a first class reception, be royally feasted, and make speeches about friendship. And from their moves on the Abkhazian and South Ossetian issue the Belarusian authorities will try to squeeze every possible political benefit. After the recognition of the Caucasian republics by Nicaragua and Venezuela, it would seem to have became clear that it is simply indecent for Minsk to drag out this issue. However, the policy of emphasizing its independence continues.

Source: Regnum (Эксперт: Лукашенко шантажирует Запад, но он вряд ли сможет получить желаемое)