Lobbyists in US report on Zelensky’s spending to improve his image
The lobbyist company Signal Group Consulting has published a report on the work that it did for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington between April 3 and May 21, 2019. According to documents presented to the US Justice Department, the company received a fee of $60,000 for its services and $9,371 in compensation for its expenses.
The services were rendered between the first and second rounds of presidential elections in Ukraine. At the time, Zelensky’s team categorically denied the existence of such a contract, Voice of America reports.
As it turns out, a contract did in fact exist. Agreement number 6661 was signed on April 3, 2019. Appendices A and B indicate the contracting parties: Signal Group Consulting and “Volodymyr Zelensky – Servant of the People, through Marcus Cohen”. Marcus Cohen specified his address as: Kyiv, Velyka Vasylkivska 72, Olympiysky Shopping Mall, 2nd floor. The purpose of the agreement: to improve the “image” of Volodymyr Zelensky – the Servant of the People.
Point 3 of the agreement states: Marcus Cohen has legal authorization to act on behalf of Volodymyr Zelensky – the Servant of the People.
The contract was officially ended on May 21, 2019.
Voice of America cites a list of consultants who were involved in the contract.
Judging by the description of services, a delegation of Zelensky’s representatives visited Washington, although neither its composition nor the date of the visit are specified. According to Radio Liberty’s sources in the candidate’s pre-election team, Signal Group organized a meeting for team leader and leader of the Servant of the People party Ivan Bakanov and economic advisor Oleh Dubyna. Voice of America was unable to independently confirm or refute this information.
An appendix to the report provides a detailed description of what Signal Group did for Volodymyr Zelensky. Starting on April 3, the lobbyists were in contact with congress people, senators, the Department of State, think tanks and the like, attempting to arrange meetings.
“The fact that foreign politicians hire consultants in order to best navigate Washington’s corridors is a normal and legal matter. But without an answer, questions remain about the source of the funds and Zelensky’s team’s categorical denial of the fact that they worked with lobbyists in the US,” the news outlet writes.