[REVISION HISTORY]

Georgian government restrictions on civil society funding

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-04 08:40 UTC → 2026-10-04 09:54 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In September 2026, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the planned abolition of the State Grants Management Agency by the end of the year. The agency was created in early 2025 to provide state-controlled funding for civil society organizations, serving as an alternative to international funding following the implementation of the ‘Transparent Financing’ law. Kobakhidze characterized non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as ‘artificial entities created for foreign political interference’ and argued that the state should create its own entities to fund necessary activities. Following these developments, four German political foundations—Konrad Adenauer, Friedrich Ebert, Friedrich Naumann, and Heinrich Böll—announced they would cease operations in Georgia as of October 1, 2026. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation cited government requirements that demand all program components align with state priorities and require explicit permission for activities, which they claimed undermines their freedom of action. The foundation noted its application to continue operations was rejected on July 28, 2026. In response to international criticism, Archil Gorduladze of the Georgian Dream party stated that the government maintains the final decision on granting funds based on whether they pose risks to national sovereignty. He suggested that foundations wishing to continue working in Georgia must coordinate their grant-making with the government. Following comments from Germany’s new ambassador, Barbara Foss, regarding the closures, Gorduladze urged diplomats to adhere to the Vienna Convention and avoid a ‘threatening tone.’ Prime Minister Kobakhidze defended the administration’s actions, stating that since 2022, the government has taken necessary steps to strengthen Georgia’s sovereignty against external pressures and suggested that foreign-funded NGOs have attempted to use the country's EU candidate status as leverage against the administration. By early October 2026, the four German foundations had officially ceased operations.

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