Georgian Foreign Minister alleges paid influence amidst opposition lobbying revelations

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Tuesday suggested that certain individuals making statements about Georgia may be doing so for financial compensation, especially when their remarks align closely with the “message box” of a specific political party.

Botchorishvili’s comments came after the documents published on the US Department of Justice's Foreign Agents Registration Act website had revealed that Georgia’s opposition United National Movement party had retained the services of American lobbying firm Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. Congressman Joe Wilson is among recipients of the firm's donations.

In her remarks, Botchorishvili emphasised the importance of the US Foreign Agents Registration Act in shedding light on such activities.

“When an individual repeatedly voices opinions that fully align with the so-called ‘message box’ of a specific political force, there are well-founded suspicions that such interest in Georgia and its internal affairs may be driven by certain compensation”, the FM noted.

“The American FARA is a very useful tool - it often helps reveal the truth about what’s happening around us”, she concluded.