Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) ruling party has hired Impact Management Group (IMG) for “lobbyist services” in the United States in the run up to and after the October 8 parliamentary elections in Georgia.

Under a four-month contract, running from August 4 till November 30, Georgia’s ruling party will pay USD 320,000 to IMG, according to filings submitted this month by the firm to the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agent Registration Act.

For government relations consultancy, IMG hired as a subcontractor Alpine Group, a Washington-based lobbying firm, which will receive USD 22,500 in a period between August 29 and October 8, 2016.

For “media relations services”, IMG has a separate subcontract with public relations agency K-Global, which was providing services to the Georgian Dream back in 2012, ahead of the previous parliamentary elections. Subcontract with K-Global, worth USD 10,000, runs from August 29 till October 10, 2016.

According to the contract, IMG will assist GDDG representatives with scheduling meetings with members of the U.S. Congress and “relevant agencies” for the purpose of “educating” them regarding Georgia and upcoming parliamentary elections. IMG will advise GDDG on “communication strategy and assist with placement of news stories with credible news organizations”, coordinate messaging, assist to communicate to Western news organizations, and help “to deliver messages of the party to political leaders in U.S.”

The firm will also provide logistical support for trip of GDDG representatives to the United States and their meetings with Congress members, as well as logistical support for a trip of members of Congress to Georgia, according to the contract.

In April the Georgian government hired law and lobbying firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman to get “advice and assistance on U.S.-Georgia bilateral relation” and in “communicating” with the U.S. administration officials and Congress members. Under one-year contract, the government is paying Pillsbury USD 50,000 per month.