Levon Galustyan: "I would not advise anyone to search for a black cat in a dark room."

SUKHUM / AQW’A —  Levon Galustyan, a member of the Abkhazian parliament, has dismissed claims of external influence in the country’s political landscape, stating that all registered presidential candidates are "patriotic citizens" committed to Abkhazia's future.

In an interview with a Russian-Armenian media outlet, Galustyan criticised suggestions that foreign actors were attempting to interfere in the country’s affairs. "I would not advise anyone to search for a black cat in a dark room," he remarked, implying that concerns over pro-Turkish forces in Abkhazia were unfounded.

The MP, who is also a member of the Council of the Republican Armenian Community of Abkhazia, stressed that no formal appeal had been made to Armenian authorities or the Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs regarding Abkhazia's internal matters. "To be honest, I do not see any reason to comment on what appears to be a product of someone's overactive imagination," he said.

I personally support presidential candidate Adgur Ardzinba and actively back him. At the same time, I believe that all registered candidates are patriotic citizens of our country. 

—  Levon Galustyan

Galustyan voiced his support for presidential candidate Adgur Ardzinba while reiterating that all contenders were committed to Abkhazia’s sovereignty. "All political actors in the Republic of Abkhazia are oriented towards the great power that is the Russian Federation," he said. "There are no anti-Russian forces in our country, there never have been, and I am convinced there never will be. Russia is the sole guarantor of our security and sovereignty."

The MP also emphasised the role of Abkhazia’s Armenian community, describing them as "full-fledged citizens" fully integrated into the country’s political and social fabric. "Regardless of who comes to power, representatives of the Armenian community are present in the political teams of all the candidates competing for the right to become the next president of our country," he noted.

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+ Misconceptions and Misinformation in Russian Media on Abkhazia, by Sergey Markedonov

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Galustyan underscored the active participation of Abkhazia’s Armenians in national affairs, highlighting their representation in legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. "We serve our homeland, Abkhazia, with loyalty and dedication. For us, it is crucial how our country—our common home—will develop in the future," he concluded.

A few weeks ago, political tensions escalated after reports emerged that presidential candidate Badra Gunba’s team had been actively distributing fake documents via anonymous Telegram channels in an attempt to discredit another candidate, Badra Gumba, and secure Armenian votes. One such document was a fabricated parliamentary inquiry falsely attributed to Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader, Devlet Bahçeli, a close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The document falsely alleged that Bahçeli had targeted Armenians in Abkhazia while simultaneously defending opposition leaders, explicitly naming each of them. However, investigations revealed that the document did not exist in official Turkish parliamentary records, and Bahçeli’s signature had been copied from Wikipedia with its colour altered. Furthermore, Bahçeli has not submitted a single parliamentary inquiry in over 25 years of serving in the Turkish Parliament.

The incident has raised concerns over the role of disinformation in the lead-up to Abkhazia’s presidential election, with analysts warning that such tactics could further inflame political divisions.