Mamuka Mdinaradze says Atlantic Council Vice President is referred to as UNM representative in contract signed between UNM and lobbing firm

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of the Parliamentary majority, accuses the opposition National Movement party of manipulating with lies.

As Mdinaradze stated at the briefing on Monday, a contract has been signed between the United National Movement and the lobbying company Orion Strategy, led by Randy Scheunemann and Michael Mitchel while Batu Kutelia, Vice President of the Atlantic Council, is referred to as the representative of the National Movement party.

According to Mamuka Mdinaradze, the contract is published on the official website of the US Department of Justice.

“The last contract signed between Orion Strategy and the United National Movement dates back to October 2019, is valid for one year and ends in October 2020. According to the contract, the lobbying company should assist the opposition party, the United National Movement, in strengthening Georgian democracy, as it is set out in the contract. Of course, it is nothing astonishing, unusual and scandalous in it, not to mention the person who is referred in the contract as a representative of the National Movement. As we know, this person is not formally a member of the "National Movement" and enjoys the status of the so-called civil non-governmental sector and the so-called unbiased expert. This is about Batu Kutelia, who is the Vice President of the Atlantic Council of Georgia. Although Batu Kutelia held many senior positions when the "National Movement" was in power, he is now trying to introduce himself to the public as an impartial and objective representative of the non-governmental sector and to create an umbrella for his agenda through the NGO,” Mamuka Mdinaradze said.

According to him, the Georgian Dream will show the “real face and real activities” of the National Movement to the society.

“Kutelia's case once again demonstrates what we are constantly repeating. The National Movement, its satellites, which try to represent themselves as different political parties, media outlets or NGOs, have moved from systemic crime to systemic manipulation... In fact, we are dealing with a unified formation - this is the United National Movement, which manipulates with such lies, and I can present evidence now. This is a contract posted on the official website of the US Department of Justice, where is the UNM is represented by Batu Kutelia. Of course, everyone, including Batu Kutelia, can do whatever they want, if it is not prohibited by law, but we, the Georgian Dream, the parliamentary majority, will always ensure to show their real work and face to the society,” Mamuka Mdinaradze said.