On September 23, during the Coordination Council of Law Enforcement Agencies meeting, Aslan Bzhania and Alexander Ankvab, the de-facto leaders of occupied Abkhazia, addressed critics opposing closer relations with Russia. 

They condemned the portrayal of Russia as an occupying power and cautioned against drawing comparisons between the Russian and Georgian governments. "There are people in our state, quite well-known public figures, who want to draw some parallels between the governments of Russia and Georgia. This is unacceptable," Bzhania stated. 

He emphasized, "I have said, and I would like to say once again, that we must rely on the opportunities that the Russian Federation offers us, rely on these opportunities to strengthen our statehood, strengthen our economic sovereignty, from which everything else is derived. Russia is our brother, our friend. Nobody is talking about joining [Russia]. Abkhazia is independent, but we must fulfill our obligations [towards Moscow]."

Ankvab echoed Bzhania's remarks, criticizing "young and hot-headed" individuals in Abkhazia who accuse Russia of acting as a colonizer. He considered such statements "unacceptable in interstate relations" and blamed the elders for not correcting them. He further emphasized the need to honor commitments made in 2008 and 2014, stating that any attempts "to revise them are unacceptable."