2 weeks ago
6
A British citizen has been detained in Russian-occupied Abkhazia after being accused of espionage by the region's de facto security services.
12:10, Tue, Jan 27, 2026 Updated: 12:13, Tue, Jan 27, 2026
A British citizen has been detained in Russian-occupied Abkhazia after being accused of espionage (Image: Getty)
A British citizen has been detained in Russian-occupied Abkhazia after being accused of espionage by the region’s de facto security services. Abkhazia’s so-called State Security Service (SSS) said Kuldip Singh, 42, was held on suspicion of acting “in the interests of a foreign intelligence agency”.
According to the statement, he was accused of using local contacts to collect confidential information about the location of military installations, settlements and key infrastructure across the region. No evidence was given for the espionage claims. Parts of Abkhazia are just six miles from Russia’s premier Black Sea and mountain resort, Sochi, where Vladimir Putin boasts several palaces.
Singh was brought before a court in the regional capital Sukhumi and reportedly ordered to leave the territory (Image: east2west news)
The SSS claimed the material “could have been used to the detriment of the security of the Republic of Abkhazia”, internationally recognised as a region of Georgia but under the sway of Putin, who is also believed to have a secret beach residence here.
Singh was brought before a court in the regional capital Sukhumi and reportedly ordered to leave the territory. The Briton was to be deported via the Ingur checkpoint, the main crossing point between Abkhazia and Georgia proper, rather than to Russia.
A video shows the detained man speaking in Russian saying: “I worked for 13 and a half years in an intelligence unit of the London police.” Asked why he left, he replied: “There was corruption there. Our team, including myself, left because of that.”
He claimed to have lived in Russia for 10 months before moving to Georgia, then to Abkhazia.
While Abkhazia styles itself as an independent state, it is recognised as part of Georgia (Image: Getty)
“I teach English, work in English-language schools, and I also have a business, a billiards hall,” he said, claiming he lacked valid documents because his UK passport had expired. “The validity of my British passport had expired. Because of this, I was unable to obtain the necessary documents or a visa [to stay in Abkhazia].”
While Abkhazia styles itself as an independent state, it is internationally recognised as part of Georgia and has been under effective Russian control since the 2008 Russo-Georgian War. Security experts say Abkhazia’s SSS works in close coordination with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), once headed by Putin, the main successor to the Soviet KGB.
The latest news from around the world Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
“The Abkhaz SSS does not operate in isolation,” said one regional security analyst. “Its personnel are trained with Russian counterparts, its intelligence priorities align with Moscow’s, and sensitive cases almost certainly involve the FSB directly.”
Russian troops - numbering around 5,000 - and bases are stationed in Abkhazia, and its borders are heavily policed.
English (US) · 