The pro-government news agency Ahaber was quick to denounce the rights defenders as "agents", calling to mind a similar incident that took place before the 15 July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey: 
Shirika la habari linaloiunga serikali mkono Ahaber kwa haraka lilianza kukemea wanaharakati hao kama " washirika" wa tukio kama hilo lilitokea 15 Julai 2016 kabla ya jaribio la mapinduzi nchini Uturuki: