In connection with the Izvestia article citing a commentary by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated December 3, 2025, we consider it necessary to clarify the position of the Republic of Abkhazia on a number of issues raised.

Having read the statement by the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which welcomed the latest, 32-nd Consolidated Report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, I would like to note the following.

Opening remarks by Oleg Bartsits, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia, at the opening ceremony of the International Documentary Film Festival "RT. Doc: Time of Our Heroes" (Abkhaz State University, November 17, 2025)

Speech by Oleg Bartsits, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia at the awards ceremony and gala concert for the winners of the 4-th Alisa Gitsba International Music Competition and Laboratory, "Music – Dialogue Without Borders and Distances" (October 23, 2025, R. Gumba Abkhaz State Philharmonic)

The adoption of the resolution "Cooperation with Georgia" in the UN Human Rights Council and the subsequent statements by UK representatives are part of a long-running political performance aimed at discrediting of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia. This historic document, signed on September 19, 2005, in Tskhinval, enshrined the historical traditions of brotherhood, mutual assistance, and partnership between our peoples and states.

I cannot leave without comment the speech by Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Lasha Darsalia on behalf of Georgia at the 69th IAEA General Conference. I strongly reject the use of the terms "occupation" and "separatist regions" in relation to Abkhazia. The Republic of Abkhazia views itself as a sovereign state, whose independence was achieved through the free expression of the will of its people following the 1992–1993 war. It was recognized as a sovereign and independent state on August 26, 2008, by the Russian Federation and other Russian allies, who supported its decision and the Abkhazian people's expression of will in the referendum.

August 26 marks the 17th anniversary of the recognition of the state independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Abkhazia by the Russian Federation. The historic Decree No. 1261 was signed by the President of Russia D.A. Medvedev on August 26, 2008.

Recent statements by Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze that Western officials have been pressuring the Georgian government to open a "second front" against Russia, which in fact means new aggression against Abkhazia and South Ossetia, confirming the facts of blackmail and threats from Western countries, are fully consistent with the practice of pressure on sovereign states known to us.

On August 19, 2025, a meeting of the Security Council members was held at the UN headquarters dedicated to the events of 2008. Following the meeting, some representatives of Western countries issued a joint statement in support of Georgia's territorial integrity and condemned the presence of Russian military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It should be noted that such joint statements by Western representatives in support of Georgia have become traditional and have nothing to do with objective reality.