Russian Tourist Killed in Abkhazia, Local Man Arrested

In Abkhazia, local resident Edgar Abukha was detained and confessed to the murder of a Russian tourist, according to local police.

Consensus

Amina Bikbova, a 26-year-old Russian tourist from Orenburg Oblast, went missing in Abkhazia on September 23.
She was last seen alive after meeting with a local man named Edgar Abukhba at a market.
She was last heard from on September 23, when she called her mother and sent video messages indicating she was fine.
Edgar Abukhba was arrested and later confessed to her murder.
The body was found in bushes near a rural road in the Bzyb Gorge area.
Abukhba claimed he killed her during a fight and attempted to hide the body by transporting it and trying to drown it.
He admitted to disposing of her phone and personal belongings in trash bins along the Sukhumi Highway.
The incident occurred in the Gagra District of Abkhazia.
The victim had rented an apartment in Gagra and planned to return to Russia on September 24.
She had extended her stay after meeting Abukhba.

Abukhba previously served time in prison for rape and attempted murder of another foreign woman. — vm
Abukhba initially denied inviting Bikbova to his home and claimed she was taken by an unknown car after a phone call. — vm
Abukhba was released after giving explanations and was later re-arrested. — tvrain
Abukhba was released early from a 2021 sentence for rape and robbery of another Russian tourist. — tg_varlamov_news
The friend of the victim contacted the police after Abukhba's initial statement, but the man was released after giving explanations. — tvrain
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Abukhba's early release, calling it evidence of leniency in Abkhazian justice. — tg_varlamov_news