File this one under “caught red handed.”  The Kremlin might take note that they shouldn’t have their spies posing as “independent South Ossetian activists” hiring elite public relations firms.  From the Associated Press:

Georgia’s interior minister, Vano Merabishvili, told the AP on Monday that Tskhovrebova was spying for Russia’s security services. Tskhovrebova ridiculed the idea and said she is the victim of a smear campaign. But U.S. officials said they have become wary of her – questioning who paid for her Washington tour – and regret providing U.S. government money to pay for the event this week at George Mason University where Tskhovrebova was expected to speak.

Tskhovrebova’s trip reflects the high-stakes campaign between Georgia and Russia, each eager to blame the other for their August war and to influence U.S. policy as Barack Obama assumes the presidency.

Tskhovrebova said she did not know Georgian intelligence had been intercepting her calls until the AP showed her transcripts of the conversations. The wiretaps make clear her conversations have been routinely intercepted since at least 2005. There is no evidence Tskhovrebova had access to secret information, but Guliev appeared interested in her frequent contact with Western organizations.