Former Georgian Ambassador accuses opposition of undermining Foreign policy efforts in US, EU

Former Georgian Ambassador to the United States and ex-State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Davit Bakradze, has accused members of the United National Movement (UNM) of lobbying against Georgia’s national interests in Washington and Brussels between 2012 and 2025.

Speaking during a session of the Georgian Parliament’s temporary investigative commission, which is probing alleged crimes under the UNM leadership between 2003-2012, Bakradze alleged that lobbyists connected to opposition figures worked to portray Georgia’s government as “pro-Russian, anti-American and anti-democratic” to US lawmakers.

Citing documents available on the US Department of Justice’s FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) database, Bakradze claimed the records show specific dates, meetings, and the issues raised by American lobbyists - including Michael Tichel and Randy Schoeneman - who were allegedly disseminating what he described as "a prepared narrative" damaging to Georgia’s international image.

“This narrative had no format for discussion or negotiation - it was simply distributed through the personal networks of influential lobbyists,” Bakradze said. “Throughout the summer of 2020, the US Congress - including the Foreign Affairs, Appropriations, Finance, and Helsinki Committees - was flooded with this disinformation concerning Georgia’s electoral processes, media environment, and democratic development.”

Bakradze emphasized that Georgia’s diplomatic mission in Washington had to work intensively to counter what he described as a campaign of disinformation. Despite the challenges, he noted, high-level engagement between the US and Georgia continued, including visits by senior American officials such as the Secretaries of State and Defense, and the Vice President.

The former ambassador also accused UNM members of undermining Georgia’s push for visa-free travel with the European Union during key meetings ahead of the 2015 Association Council. He alleged that while the Georgian government was lobbying for positive conclusions from the European Commission, UNM representatives were simultaneously discouraging EU decision-makers from supporting visa liberalisation for Georgia.

“At meetings with Members of the European Parliament and EU Commission officials, we repeatedly heard confusion over how the main opposition party - while publicly supporting European integration - could actively lobby against a decision so important for the Georgian people,” Bakradze told the commission.

He added that while political rivalry is expected in democratic systems, European diplomats were “shocked” that opposition activities appeared to be targeting the state's strategic goals, particularly the country’s long-standing ambition to join the European Union.