Gleb Nikitin participated in the celebrations marking Abkhazia's Independence Day.

      October 1, 2025, 14:27 Society An official delegation from Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, headed by Governor Gleb Nikitin, attended events dedicated to Victory and Independence Day of the Republic of Abkhazia, the regional government press service reported.

      The all-Russian delegation, which included representatives from various regions of the country, was led by the First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, Sergey Kiriyenko. The Nizhny Novgorod delegation included Minister of International and Interregional Relations Olga Guseva, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Vladimir Tuzhilin, Minister of Tourism and Crafts Sergey Yakovlev, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia’s representative in Nizhny Novgorod Sergey Malov, First Deputy Head of the Nizhny Novgorod City Administration Sergey Egorov, and the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Abkhazia in Nizhny Novgorod Vladimir Litvinchuk.

      Gleb Nikitin noted that, together with Sergey Kiriyenko, the delegation honored the memory of the fallen heroes by laying flowers at the memorial in the Park of Glory in Sukhumi, and also took part in commemorative events and the ceremonial parade. According to the governor, attendees of the Nizhny Novgorod camp "I Want to Become a Paratrooper" participated in the procession, and the mechanized column featured vehicles manufactured in Nizhny Novgorod. Nikitin emphasized that a reverent attitude toward the memory of the fallen unites Russia and Abkhazia, and noted the deep respect of the republic’s residents for their own history. As part of the visit, the delegation visited the Vladislav Ardzinba Museum of Military Glory and paid tribute to the first president of Abkhazia and to the country’s second president, Sergey Bagapsh, who made a significant contribution to the development of Russian-Abkhaz relations.

      The central site of the celebrations in Sukhumi was the memorial in the Park of Glory, created by the well-known sculptor Amiran Adleiba. The composition symbolizes the end of the 1992–1993 war between the people of Abkhazia and the Armed Forces of Georgia. A sword plunged into the ground with a hollow in its hilt reflects mourning and the unhealed wound from the losses suffered in the battles that lasted 413 days. The nearby wing symbolizes the Abkhaz people’s aspiration for freedom.

      Members of the delegation also witnessed the "Immortal Regiment" march that took place in the republic’s capital.

      Olga Guseva, Minister of International and Interregional Relations of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, recalled that the region has been developing a partnership with Abkhazia for more than ten years in the economic, scientific and technical, and cultural spheres. Thus, Nizhny Novgorod, Arzamas and Bor maintain close ties with Sukhumi, Pitsunda and New Athos, while the Gorodetsky and Kstovsky districts are implementing joint projects with the Gagra and Gudauta districts. According to the minister, the delegation’s participation in the celebration of Victory and Independence Day underscores the importance of cooperation and strengthens friendship between the regions.

      Earlier reports said that the head of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Gleb Nikitin, discussed expanding cooperation with the President of Abkhazia.

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