Media Development Foundation (MDF) is responding to the latest letter received from the Anti-Corruption Bureau on August 11, 2025, and provides legal justification explaining why the inspection process initiated by the aforementioned agency is unlawful, represents a continuation of repressive actions by the government,  why the so-called law- "Foreign Agents Registration Act " does not apply to our organization, and why the claim that this law establishes practices analogous to the American FARA is absurd.

The assumption that receiving foreign funding automatically equates to advancing foreign interests, as well as the launching "inspections" of dubious legal grounds—because of collective critical statements from NGOs and public remarks by the organization's leadership at international events and in Georgian media—signals a new phase of repression against MDF. This process aims to:

• To Suppress critical opinion in society,

• To Punish MDF for critical assessments of the country's democratic backsliding,

• Take revenge against MDF employees,

• Illegally suspension of the organization's activities.

In the letter addressed to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Media Development Foundation emphasizes that MDF's activities, for which the organization receives funding from the European Union, EU member state governments, and other Western donors, are transparent and serve solely and exclusively the interests of Georgian citizens, and are consistent with the goals declared by the Georgian government in legislation and policy documents. For example:

• MDF's media literacy program serves to promote media literacy education and strengthen societal resilience, which is considered a priority by Georgian legislation, the National Curriculum, the Georgian Government's Communication Strategy, and other policy documents.

• The beneficiaries of MDF's media literacy programs are Georgian citizens - young people (school students, university students), educators, teachers, students of the teachers` preparation educational program, as well as trainers from the regulatory agency responsible for implementing media literacy policy - the Georgian National Communications Commission (ComCom). Between 2017-2025 alone, more than 5,000 people participated in MDF's media literacy trainings, including up to 4,000 young people and up to 1,000 teachers. The teacher training educational program, which MDF implemented in the higher education sector begining in 2019, has produced up to 150 graduates.

• Educational resources developed by MDF are a significant resource for representatives of the academic sector (schools, higher education institutions, professional organizations) for teaching media literacy, as evidenced by MDF's handbooks placed on the web portal of  LEPL Education Management Information System, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia.

• MDF's educational resources are referenced in the bibliography of "Media Literacy Lessons," a textbook developed by the National Communications Commission in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, which aims to integrate media literacy into formal education.

• During the pandemic, in an effort to support COVID-19 prevention and response, MDF conducted media literacy activities in schools together with the National Communications Commission, within the framework of a project supported by UNICEF and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). During this period, 900 school students, 118 educators, and 140 parents were trained in 30 cities across Georgia, while educators were equipped with media literacy educational resources.

• During the pandemic, to combat the infodemic aimed at undermining public health response, MDF collaborated with the National Center for Disease Control and other healthcare system representatives on information exchange, aiming to ensure the public received timely and accurate information.

• Combating disinformation, particularly Russian hybrid threats, is also recognized as a major security challenge for Georgia in policy documents adopted by the Georgian government.
• Activities in this direction are one of MDF's main priorities, which contributes to identifying and detecting harmful information, analyzing the methods used, and strengthening societal resilience through public awareness. Research and investigations conducted by MDF not only expose information warfare by hostile states, but also examine coordinated inauthentic behavior by local actors, aimed at informing Georgian society and protecting the information ecosystem from harmful influences, enabling citizens to make informed choices.