Georgia to abolish State Grants Management Agency

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has announced the abolition of the State Grants Management Agency, scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. The agency was established in early 2025 to fund civil society organizations whose activities align with national development priorities, serving as a state-controlled alternative to international funding following the implementation of the ‘Transparent Financing’ law.

In his announcement, Kobakhidze criticized the concept of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) broadly, describing them as ‘artificial entities created for foreign political interference’. He argued that the sole purpose of NGOs is to facilitate one state’s intervention in another, suggesting that the government should instead create its own entities to fund necessary activities.

Tamar Oniani, chair of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), criticized the decision, stating that the agency’s closure contradicts previous government claims of supporting democratic institutions, corruption combatting, and minority rights. Oniani noted that while NGOs may not have existed in their modern form a century ago, they are essential for the effective functioning of international human rights treaties and protections.