Russia attacks Czech Republic for ‘shocking’ Belarus statement

Russia has responded to a warning made by the Czech EU presidency, urging Belarus not to recognise the independence of Georgia’s breakaway regions, as ‘politically shocking’. The remarks were made by Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzeberg earlier this week. Speaking in Brussels, Mr Schwarzenberg said that Belarus would face a ‘very, very difficult situation’ if it did recognise the independence of pro-Moscow Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has moved to improve relations with the EU recently after years of isolation. Last week, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana made his first ever visit to the country. If Belarus were to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it would become only the third country to do so, after Russia and Nicaragua.