A resident of Sochi, Ksenia Alypova, has publicly apologized after appearing in Gagra wearing a hat featuring the Georgian national flag, an incident that sparked strong reactions in Abkhazia.
In the video, Alypova said she arrived in Abkhazia on June 1 and rented a house in Gagra for two weeks. During her vacation, she posted content on social media showing a pink hat decorated with an image of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders and colored with the Georgian flag.
“I didn’t mean any political innuendo. I apologize,” Alypova said in the video.
The incident drew attention after local Telegram channels and social media users shared images of the hat. Local residents in the Black Sea resort town of Gagra noticed the tourist wearing the hat, sparking public discussion.
An Instagram post about the incident also generated hundreds of comments, many expressing criticism of the tourist. Following the backlash, Alypova released a video message addressed to residents of Abkhazia, apologizing for the incident.
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