Closure of Konrad Adenauer Foundation was inevitable after foreign influence law, says opposition MP

“The closure of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Tbilisi office was entirely predictable from the moment Georgian Dream reintroduced its so-called transparency legislation, in reality, a ‘Russian law’,” Gakharia for Georgia party’s MP Giorgi Sharashidze declared on Friday.

Speaking on behalf of the Gakharia for Georgia party, Sharashidze described the departure of such an influential international institution as a deeply regrettable setback for the country.

“This legislation was copied from Russia in its intent and motivation to dismantle the democratic process and erect endless barriers against civil society. Under Georgian Dream’s rule, prestigious institutions are now abandoning the country entirely. It is a profoundly tragic outcome,” Mr Sharashidze stated.

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) released an official statement confirming that it formally shut down its regional office in Tbilisi on 30 September.