The renewed violence coincided with efforts to resolve two issues hindering a durable peace between the neighbours – demarcation of the border and an agreement on allowing free transit for Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan.

Ever since Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko launched a brutal crackdown to retain power last August, Minsk has been increasingly isolated—and has lashed out at its neighbours, such as Poland, who support the Belarusian opposition.

The former Georgian president had been refusing food for 50 days to protest against his detention. He is now receiving treatment at a military hospital.