Кубинская эмигрантка в Абхазии столкнулась с четырехчасовой очередью за 20 литрами бензина

A Cuban woman who moved to Abkhazia recently encountered a situation she thought she had left behind: waiting in line for four hours at a gas station, only to purchase a mere 20 liters of fuel. Milly, who shares her experiences in this region of the South Caucasus on Instagram under the handle @lafamiliaromero1 (La Familia Romero), posted a video that sparked reactions among the Cuban diaspora. "Today we faced something I sincerely thought I'd never experience again after leaving Cuba. We spent about four hours waiting to get gas, and when our turn finally came... Do you know how much they were selling? Only 20 liters! That's when I thought: My God, this reminds me too much of Cuba," she expressed in the video. Echoes of Cuba in Abkhazia For Milly, the incident was more than just a logistical inconvenience; it was an emotional flashback to memories she believed were behind her. "For someone who has never lived through this, perhaps four hours waiting for gas is just that—four hours. But for a Cuban, it brings back memories. The lines, the uncertainty, not knowing if what you need will still be there when your turn comes," she reflected. She highlighted a key difference between the two situations. In Abkhazia, she trusts the issue is temporary, whereas in Cuba, "you often didn't know when the problem would end." At the conclusion of her video, Milly posed a question that resonates with many expatriates: "After waiting four hours, I could only think: Is the blackout following us? It seems you leave Cuba, but some experiences stay with you." Discovering Abkhazia: The Unknown Land for Most Cubans Abkhazia is a territory with limited recognition situated on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. It declared itself an independent republic after a conflict with Georgia in 1992-1993, and Russia recognized it as such in 2008. Covering an area of roughly 8,600 square kilometers and home to a population of between 240,000 and 245,000 people, its capital is Sukhumi. The region uses the Russian ruble and heavily relies on Moscow for energy, food, and financial support, making it particularly susceptible to the economic disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine. The fuel crisis Abkhazia faced in August 2026 stems from its near-total reliance on Russia for energy supplies. However, on the occasion of the anniversary of the conflict that divided the territories, Georgia sent 300 tons of gasoline to Abkhazia for the first time, as reported by SWI. On her Instagram account, Milly features a video titled "The country almost no Cuban knows," which has garnered over 73,000 views. In it, she explains why she believes Abkhazia is a promising place for Cuban emigrants to start anew. "I'm not selling a dream; I'm just sharing my real experience," she stated. Understanding Abkhazia's Challenges and Milly's Experience What challenges did Milly face in Abkhazia that reminded her of Cuba? Milly faced a fuel shortage in Abkhazia, where she had to wait four hours in line to purchase only 20 liters of gasoline, reminiscent of the scarcity and uncertainty experienced in Cuba. How does Milly view the situation in Abkhazia compared to Cuba? Milly believes that the fuel shortage in Abkhazia is a temporary issue, unlike in Cuba, where such problems often had no foreseeable end. Why is Abkhazia of interest to Cuban emigrants, according to Milly? Milly considers Abkhazia to be a suitable place for Cuban emigrants to start a new life due to its unique characteristics and opportunities, which she shares as part of her genuine experience, not as a fantasy.