Official documents uploaded to the US Foreign Agents Registration Act [FARA] website clearly show organised efforts to disseminate pre-prepared anti-Georgian narratives to American politicians, said David Bakradze, former State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration / now Ambassador to the UN, at the Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission.

“The documents openly list meeting dates, participants, and - most importantly - the topics being pushed… The Embassy of Georgia in Washington had to actively combat and refute the disinformation disseminated by lobbyists… The reason I call them “pre-prepared” is because, even within the listed discussion points or information-sharing agendas, it was explicitly mentioned that the content was about a pro-Russian, anti-American state, governed by an anti-democratic regime.

There was no room for debate or exchange - it was an orchestrated delivery of negative narratives. At that time, lobbyists like Michael Tichnell and Randy Scheunemann, who had longstanding and influential relationships in Washington, used their access to spread these messages.

Considering their traditional connections, in July, August, and September 2020 there was a flurry of meetings in the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Appropriations, Finance, and Helsinki Committees. These meetings circulated information about the electoral process, media environment, democratic development in Georgia.

Ultimately, over these 4 years, we were able to ensure high-level engagement. Senior US officials visited Georgia - including Secretaries of State and Defence, the National Security Advisor, and the Vice President - who had the opportunity to see Georgia’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations”, - said David Bakradze.