BGR Government Affairs has been tapped by the Republic of Azerbaijan’s embassy in Washington D.C. to provide guidance and counsel in a bid to strengthen relations between the U.S. and that oil-rich country.

Azerbaijan

The nature of the work will involve government affairs and public relations services to be performed entirely within the U.S., which may include outreach to U.S. government officials, non-government organizations, members of the media and other U.S-based individuals, according to Foreign Agents Registration Act documents filed in March.

The pro-western, 90 percent Muslim nation, which borders Russia and Iran and was formerly a Soviet republic state, is known for its “caviar diplomacy” efforts to enhance its image abroad amid claims of human rights abuses.

The country, which holds diplomatic relations and a bilateral trade agreement with the U.S., has inked a number of image-building pacts in recent years with Podesta Group, Greenberg Traurig, APCO Worldwide, Patton Boggs and Delahunt Group, among others.

BGR’s work for Azerbaijan runs from March through December 31 and brings BGR a monthly fee of $50,000.

BGR will report to Azerbaijan’s U.S. Ambassador Elin Suleymanov.

BGR Government Affairs is a unit within BGR Group, which was founded by former Mississippi governor and Republican National Committee chairman Haley Barbour.