Russia to close all Goethe-Institut branches in response to Berlin's measures
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has announced that all branches of the Goethe-Institut in Russia will be closed following Berlin's decision to shut down the Russian House Russian Houses are cultural centres established in other countries to promote Russia's language and culture and Russian education. They also serve as platforms for Russian state propaganda and soft power. as part of its response to the drone incident in Leipzig.
Source: European Pravda, citing Deutsche Welle
Details: Lavrov said that following Germany's decision to terminate the agreement governing the operation of the Russian House in Berlin, Russia would respond by closing all three branches of the Goethe-Institut in the country – in Moscow, St Petersburg and Novosibirsk.
"Of course, they will be closed after our cultural centre was expelled from there. Otherwise, we would have no self-respect," the Russian foreign minister said.
He added that by deciding to close the Russian House in Berlin, Germany had "deliberately taken a step that unequivocally meant ending its cultural presence in the Russian Federation, which had been maintained despite all the Ukrainian-related twists and turns in our relations with the West".
Background:
- On 1 September, Germany directly accused Russia of carrying out a hybrid attack at Leipzig Airport in early August and announced measures in response, including the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul summoned the Russian ambassador in connection with this, as did many other European capitals.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry threatened Berlin with a "fitting response" and summoned Germany's chargé d'affaires in Moscow.
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