On February 16, the separatist Abkhazian Foreign Ministry responded to expressions of concern from the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding the release of a citizen of [the separatist] Abkhazia, who was convicted of raping a Russian woman. The Abkhazian side affirmed that the allied relations between Abkhazia and Russia are not subject to revision and are based on strong human, historical, cultural, and humanitarian traditions.

The de-facto Abkhazian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the mechanism of interstate interaction between the two countries encompasses various dialog tracks across multiple agencies. While acknowledging that certain issues may arise occasionally, the Abkhazian side asserted that addressing these challenges strengthens the bond between the two nations. According to the statement, both Abkhazia and Russia maintain fraternal allied relations founded on the principle of sovereign equality of states.

The Russian Foreign Ministry recently expressed dismay over Abukhba's release on February 2, highlighting concerns about Abkhazian justice's perceived leniency towards crimes committed within the republic's borders. Moscow cautioned its citizens about potential risks to the safety of foreign guests visiting Abkhazian resorts.

Notably, the case in question involves Edgar Abukhba, a resident of Abkhazia, who was initially accused of rape, robbery, and inflicting serious harm to the health of a Russian citizen. In 2021, he was sentenced to nine years in a general regime colony. However, the Cassation Board of the Supreme Court later modified the sentence to nine years in a strict regime colony and imposed a fine of EUR 100, considering Abukhba's age at the time of the crime.