Georgian authorities are trying to make it clear to their people that they need to go to the EU with dignity – Artur Mirzoyan

The term “Armenian carousel” is not a political term because this concept does not exist, Artur Mirzoyan, Chairman of the Armenian Community of Georgia NGO, told Alpha News.

“As far as I remember, the term ‘Armenian carousel’ was spread back in 2012 but was perceived by the people in a completely different way. This is not a political term, because there is no such concept. Armenia does not know about it either. True, this term is used in Georgia, but in this case it will be difficult for me to say why the President of Georgia used it,” Mirzoyan said.

Speaking about the recent elections in Georgia and the opposition demonstrations, he stressed: “Before the elections, it was already clear that if the government, the Georgian Dream, won, the opposition would not accept it, and the authorities were sure that they would win. And before the announcement of the election results, it was clear that the opposition would not recognize them. So, I think it is not the end, but on the contrary, it is the beginning of something.”

Referring to the statement by the European Commission that said that it would not recommend opening negotiations with Georgia on accession, Mirzoyan noted that the authorities had been waiting for this.

“The incumbent authorities have strained their relations with the West when they adopted the ‘foreign agent ‘law. The statement by the European Commission on Georgia’s accession was not something new for the authorities; they were waiting for it. This is what the authorities have been convincing their people of, explaining that they need to go to Europe, to the European Union, but with their heads held high. This is their slogan. Toward Europe with dignity. They note that they do not want to become a second front and try to make their people understand that,” Mirzoyan concluded.