US Helsinki Commission accuses Georgia’s ruling party of using ‘dark money’ from fraudulent call centers

The US Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, commonly known as the Helsinki Commission, on Monday accused the Georgian Dream ruling party of financing its operations through dark money obtained from a network of fraudulent call centers.

“Georgian Dream relies on dark money from a network of scam call centers around the world to fund its operations and harass its opposition”, it said on network X and urged the US State Department to “crack down on these call centers that sponsor Georgian Dream’s antidemocratic campaign against the Georgian people”.

The issue was also highlighted in a letter from members of the American Congress, who are part of the Helsinki Commission. The letter, sent to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on July 31, urged the imposition of sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chair and the founder of the Georgian Dream ruling party, and his close associates.

The US Helsinki Commission is a government body that promotes human rights, military security, and economic cooperation among 57 countries in Europe, Eurasia, and North America. The Commission comprises nine members from the Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and three officials from the executive branch.