At a meeting with the assets of local administrations on September 14, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Inal Ardzinba reported the decision of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to provide duty-free trade with the de-facto republic.

"De facto, for us, this means economic recognition," Ardzinba noted. "The decision of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to organize duty-free trade with Abkhazia is an economic recognition," Ardzinba said. The head of the de-facto Abkhazian Foreign Ministry said that during meetings with the assets of the administrations, security issues and the geopolitical situation around the republic were considered.

"We discussed relations with Belarus, with which we are establishing trade and economic ties, I informed our compatriots about the decision of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to provide duty-free trade with the Republic of [the separatist] Abkhazia. This is de facto economic recognition for us," Ardzinba said. He says the further trajectory of political relations with Belarus depends on how the country will use this opportunity.

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