OREANDA-NEWS. October 20, 2008. The Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of Belarus-Russia Union State granted an observer status to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The decision was passed at the 34th PA session on October 17.

The parliaments of Abkhazia and South Ossetia addressed the Parliamentary Assembly with relevant requests.

When asked whether providing an observer status contradicts to the fact that Belarus has not yet recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Chairman of the PA foreign policy commission Nikolai Cherginets said: “I see no problems (neither political nor ethic) in giving an observer status to the parliaments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia”. He reminded, the Parliamentary Assembly has granted an observer status to the parliaments of the countries as well as to different international organisations.