Lobbyists Do the Darndest Things

"Lobbyists for a business group close to the crooked government of Azerbaijan have scheduled what looks to be" a National Press Club event for a front group, according to Harper's Ken Silverstein. The event features members of the "Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan" (ACSDA), and was organized by the lobbying firm Bob Lawrence & Associates. The firm, according to Silverstein, "promotes the interests of President Ilham Aliyev but is paid by a cut-out: Renaissance Associates, a pro-government business group based in Baku, the Azeri capital." ACSDA has conducted polls purporting to show more support for President Aliyev, more political freedom, and less concern with corruption than independent polls have found. ACSDA vice-president Vali Alibayov, who's heading the delegation to the U.S., is also a member of the International Association for Public Relations. A 6 2006 lobbying report lists defense, foreign relations, oil & gas pipelines, tourism and trade as the issues that Bob Lawrence & Associates lobbied on for Azerbaijan, on behalf of Renaissance Associates.