The FINANCIAL -- According to Civil Georgia, Belarusian lawmakers decided on November 5 to set up a working group that will develop a position on possible recognition of breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The FINANCIAL -- According to Civil Georgia, Russia has granted a refugee status to Alik Bzhania, who served in the Georgian coast guard and requested political asylum in Russia in May, Interfax news agency reported on November 5 quoting Russia’s Federal Migration Service.

The FINANCIAL -- According to Civil Georgia, Alexander Shliakhturov, chief of Russia’s military intelligence (GRU), said on November 5 that he did not rule out that Georgia might again use force against breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The FINANCIAL -- According to Civil Georgia, five candidates have been nominated to run in presidential elections in breakaway Abkhazia planned for December 12, local news agency Apsnipress reported.

The FINANCIAL -- According to Civil Georgia, President Saakashvili is paying an official visit to Qatar as part of the authorities’ attempts to attract investments, the Georgian officials said.