Lobbying Activity of the Political Party “The Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia” in the United States

Abstract

Since 2011 Bidzina Ivanishvili and the “Georgian Dream” Coalition started large-scale lobbying activity in the United States of America. In its firsts stage, the lobbyists were tasked to argue for fair, open and honest elections in 2012 and to organize meetings of the Georgian Dream representatives with the high-rank officials of the US. These efforts were aimed to conduct PR, to raise Ivanishvili’s recognition in the West and “to show the real face” of Mikheil Saakashvili.

The Georgian Press actively covered the controversial topics of lobbying efforts of Mikheil Saakashvili and Bidzina Ivanishvili. With the appearance of billionaire Ivanishvili in the Georgian politics, the fact that Georgia has been using lobbying assistance in the United States since 1991 has become widely known to the Georgian Society.

Bidzina Ivanishvili began hiring lobbyists in the US right after his appearence on the Georgian poliical stage. As use of his financial assets were limited in Georgia, he directed his funds to the West. From November 2011 until his emergence in the government of Georgia, 6 lobbying companies were paid  USD 1 095 635 in total.

Lobbying activities of Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Georgian Dream can be reviewed in two phases: the pre-election period, before the Georgian Dream came to the government of the country and after its emergence in the government of Georgia. Unlike its predecessor, with assuming political leadership of the country, the Georgian Dream abruptly reduced both, the number of hired lobbyists and the amount of money paid for their service. The contracts signed with most of these lobbying companies were terminated and only two companies - Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and the Harbour Group - were maintained in the US for further partnership. They rotects the interests of Georgia in the US and are tasked to increase support of Georgia among the political and civil leaders of the US and to back-up its foreign policy throiugh media coverage. According to the signed contract these companies are paid USD 320 000.

The study proves that Bidzina Ivanishvili managed to neutralize the nine-year-long lobbying campaign of its main opponent – the United National Movement’s political force. There was no such precedent before 2011, as the oppositon parties did not have enough funds to carry out lobbying campaign on such scale against Mikheil Saakashvili’s government.