Sochi residents expelled from Abkhazia for taking a photo with a Georgian flag
The so-called State Security Service of occupied Abkhazia reported the detention and expulsion of Sochi residents Nina Bronik (born 1983) and her son Timur Ugurov (born 2008) from the territory of Abkhazia.
Radio Liberty reports this.
According to the agency, Bronik and Ugurov arrived in Sukhumi in a private car:
“According to the information received, while stopping at the entrance to the city, citizen Bronik was taking a photo of his son Ugurov with a Georgian flag.”
The agency released footage of the interrogation of Russian citizens. In the video, Bronik says that he lived in Abkhazia until 1993. 17-year-old Ugurov says that he was planning to visit his uncle and aunt.
“As I approached Sokhumi, I thoughtlessly took a photo with the Georgian flag against the city’s nameboard. Passers-by reported this to the State Security Service,” she said.
According to the woman, their car was soon stopped by special services representatives and “asked to follow them.”
In the video, Bronik and Ugurov apologize and say that they “did not want to offend the Abkhaz people in any way,” “hurt their national feelings,” and “question the sovereignty of the Republic of Abkhazia.”
According to the de facto SUS, the Russian citizens left Abkhazia “after a preventive conversation,” accompanied by agency employees.
Similar incidents have been reported in Abkhazia in the past. In particular, in 2025, Russian citizen Otar Kobakhidze was expelled from the occupied region after visiting Sukhumi with his daughter and stating in a video that he had “returned to his homeland after 33 years.”
In 2024, Russian businessman Erasti Bukia visited the village of Gantiadi, where he lived before the war. He stated that he would return there after the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity, after which he was also expelled through the “Psou” checkpoint.
Videos shot by Georgian citizens in Abkhazia have also repeatedly caused a stir.