Konrad Adenauer Foundation Closes Tbilisi Office
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) closed its foreign office in Tbilisi on September 30, 2026. According to the foundation, the closure was not a voluntary decision.
"The closure of our Tbilisi office is a direct result of the political and legal framework created by the Georgian government, under which KAS can no longer fulfill its core mission on the ground as a political foundation," the foundation stated.
According to the foundation, on July 28, 2026, the Administration of the Government of Georgia rejected applications submitted by KAS for project funding, citing the new Law on Grants.
The statement noted that intensive efforts—including those by the German Federal Government—to secure the possibility of continuing the foundation's activities under the new regulations proved unsuccessful.
KAS stated that project approval appeared possible only if the projects no longer aligned with the foundation's political nature and mission. "Remaining in Georgia without the possibility of fulfilling the true mission of our work is not a sustainable option for the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Consequently, the closure of the office is the inevitable result of the Georgian government restricting our activities," the Foundation stated.
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation has been active in Georgia since 2003, with its work covering areas such as democracy, the rule of law, parliamentary development, and European integration.
The Foundation’s activities were funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Federal Foreign Office (AA), and the European Union.
According to KAS, for over two decades, the Foundation has fostered regional cooperation in the South Caucasus, the development of democratic and legal institutions, the process of reckoning with the past, interfaith dialogue, the strengthening of parliamentary activity in Georgia, German-Georgian relations, and the country's integration with the European Union. The foundation also implemented youth programs and scholarship schemes to support young Georgians.
According to the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the organization will maintain its ties with Georgia and its long-standing partners, and will also retain its registration as a legal entity in the country, thereby preserving the possibility of returning to Georgia should the political climate change.