Young Barristers has researched lobbying activities by the Government of Georgia. The research has revealed that millions of GEL were spent on lobbying campaigns on behalf of the legislative and executive branches of the Government during 2004-2012. 

Lasha Tsibadze, a lawyer with the Young Barristers states, that especially large amount of money was transmitted to the international lobbying companies by executive and legislative branches of the Government for conducting relevant lobbying campaigns. American companies, “Podesta Group“ and “Orion Strategy“ are the most famous lobbying companies in this regard. According to the incomplete information, at least 5.5 million USD were spent on the lobbying activities during 2004-2011 only in America. After the August war 2008, the Government of Georgia has concluded 1.666 million USD deals with different American lobbyists. Since the beginning of 2004, the Government of Georgia has spent about 2.619 USD only for lobbying Mikheil Saakashvili’s political image. We also consider it reasonable to mention about Karl Bildt, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, whose company, the “Kreab” has carried out numbers of Georgian Government’s requests about supporting and lobbying international image of high   ranking officials as well as supporting political views of the Government of Georgia before different international political institutions.    

Lasha Tsibadze also states, that most of the money for lobbying activities are spent during 2003-2012 – the period when there were systemic crimes occurring in the country, when human rights were constantly violated by executive, legislative and court authorities of the country, when free business was terrorized and the citizens were “giving up” their property in favor of the Government officials. Based on all these, there is a reasonable doubt, that the former Government was paying illegally obtained funds to the foreign lobbying companies, making these money legal.   

Young Barristers has also analyzed lobbying activities conducted by the Government of Georgia from October 1, 2015 as well. The information obtained from the Government clarifies, that lobbying activities during this perios are not focused on the political image of the particular political figures, but it serves  for Country’s smooth and consistent Euro Atlantic Integration Process. It should also be noted, that the lobbying campaigns are funded not from the state budget, but from the Reserve Fund. In total 3 different contracts were signed between the Government and foreign lobbying companies in 2013, 2014 and 2015. These companies are: “Pattion Boggs”, “Squire Pattion Boggs” და „Pillsbury Winthrop shaw pittman llp”. The total amount of those contracts has reached 4 705 076.85 GEL. The organization considers, that this amount, spent on the lobbying campaign for European Integration is modest and small, which can be a result of the Government’s reasonable expenditures, spent on the PR campaigns.     

Young Barristers indicates, that the Government should increase raising funds for lobbying activities from the independent sources and funds should be directed for the representation of the problems facing the Government. In addition to this, the organization demands to check an issue of reasonableness of the funds, spent from the state budget for lobbying campaigns by the former Government.