The Konrad Adenauer Foundation is closing its office in Tbilisi

“The closure of our office in Tbilisi is a direct result of the political and legal framework established by the Government of Georgia, as a result of which the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) can no longer fulfill its core mission,” the Konrad Adenauer Foundation said in a statement.

According to the Foundation, on July 28, the Government of Georgia rejected KAS’s applications for funding for its projects, which had been submitted in accordance with the new Law on Grants. The Foundation said that intensive efforts, including efforts by the German federal government, to ensure that it could continue its activities under the new framework had been unsuccessful.

“Approval of the projects appeared possible only if they no longer corresponded to the Foundation’s political character and mission. Simply remaining in the country without the ability to carry out our core mission is not an acceptable alternative for the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Accordingly, the closure of the office is an inevitable consequence resulting from the restrictions imposed on our activities by the Government of Georgia,” the statement said.

The Foundation emphasized that it remains committed to Georgia and its long-standing partners. “It will retain its legal registration in the country in order to preserve the possibility of returning if the political circumstances change,” the statement said.