Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has promised to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday.
Lukashenko made his promise in the presence of several CIS leaders, Medvedev said.
"Recognition [of the republics] is in our interests," he added.
Russia recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia shortly after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008. Fighting broke out when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in a bid to bring it back under central control.
Nicaragua, Venezuela and the tiny island nation of Nauru are the only other countries to have recognized the republics.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and Lukashenko have repeatedly claimed that Belarus is under intense pressure from Russia to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Experts say Belarus has been dragging its feet because it fears that the move would strain its relations with the West.
SOCHI, August 3 (RIA Novosti)
