On August 20, the Deputy Head of the Border Control Department of the Border Service of the Russian Federal Security Service, Lieutenant General Rafael Daerbaev, introduced a new Head of the Division in Abkhazia, Major General Sergei Shchedrin, to the Prime Minister of the de facto Republic of Abkhazia, Alexander Ankvab.

Ankvab thanked Shchedrin's predecessor Andrei Kudimov, who was appointed to the post on January 21, 2021, succeeding Alexei Trubetsky. Ankvab confirmed to the newly appointed Shchedrin his readiness to cooperate with Russian border guards and protect the so-called border. The Russian Ambassador to Abkhazia, Mikhail Shurgalin, also attended the meeting.