Georgian opposition UNM party retains US lobbying firm Nelson Mullins - Congressman Joe Wilson among recipients of firm's donations

Documents published on the US Department of Justice's Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) website reveal that Georgia's opposition United National Movement (UNM) party had retained the services of American lobbying firm Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough,. The contract, dated July 11, was signed by Petre Tsiskarishvili on behalf of the UNM.

The agreement stipulates that the United National Movement has paid Nelson Mullins $360,000 for six months of lobbying activities. Notably, the party is officially listed in the contract as “Ertianoba Natsionaluri Modzraoba” (Unity National Movement) rather than its commonly known full name, “Ertiani Natsionaluri Modzraoba” (United National Movement).

Nelson Mullins, headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, has a long history of financially supporting political campaigns for both Republican and Democratic congressional and presidential candidates. Among the notable recipients of their donations to Political Action Committees (PACs) is South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson. Open-source data indicates that the firm has contributed a total of $87,500 to Wilson's campaigns over the past two decades, including $10,000 for his 2024 congressional election bid. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham is another prominent candidate funded by the firm, with Nelson Mullins donating $35,000 to his 2024 campaign.

Some of these donations are made under the names of individuals employed by the firm, raising concerns that funds paid by the UNM could indirectly support Congressman Wilson’s campaign. Wilson has been vocal in promoting disinformation about Georgia and is involved in efforts to pass the Megobari Act.

The agreement designates Nelson Mullins as the UNM’s diplomatic representative to US government institutions and tasks the firm with supporting the party’s advocacy for free and fair elections in Georgia.

The United National Movement has announced it will not participate in Georgia’s upcoming local elections, despite its lobbying efforts focused on electoral processes in the United States.