Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) has formally closed its foreign office in Tbilisi, announcing that it was forced to shutter operations following state restrictions on its grant funding.
In an official statement, the foundation confirmed that its Tbilisi branch ceased operations on 30 September 2026, stressing that the closure was ‘not a voluntary decision.’
“The closure of our foreign office in Tbilisi is a direct consequence of the political and legal framework created by the Georgian government, under which KAS can no longer fulfil its core mandate as a political foundation on the ground,” the statement read.
On 28 July 2026, the Georgian government administration rejected all funding applications submitted by KAS under the country’s new Law on Grants. The foundation noted that intensive diplomatic efforts, including intervention by the German Federal Government, failed to secure a workable solution that would allow operations to continue under the new statutory restrictions.
“Approval of our projects appeared possible only if we were willing to compromise the political character and core mission of the foundation. A mere physical presence in Georgia without the ability to carry out our core mandate is not a viable alternative for the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The dissolution of the office is therefore the unavoidable consequence of the restrictions placed on our work by the Georgian government,” KAS explained.
Despite the closure, the foundation reaffirmed its enduring commitment to Georgia and its long-standing local partners.
“Since 2003, KAS has been actively engaged in Georgia to promote democracy, the rule of law, parliamentary development, and European integration. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Federal Foreign Office (AA), and European Union grants, the foundation has supported regional cooperation in the South Caucasus, interreligious dialogue, transitional justice, and civic education for over two decades.
KAS confirmed that it will maintain its legal registration as an entity within Georgia to enable a swift return should political conditions change,” the statement noted.
