Russia to Close Goethe Institutes Following German Closure of Russian House

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russia will close all branches of the Goethe Institute, including locations in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg. This decision is a direct response to the German government's announcement to close the Russian House cultural center in Berlin and the Russian consulate in Bonn. Lavrov stated during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok that the closures were necessary for Russia to maintain its self respect and marked the end of Germany's cultural presence in the country.

The diplomatic escalation follows the discovery of explosive drones at the Leipzig/Halle airport in August. The German government attributed this hybrid attack to Russia, leading to the decision to terminate the Russian House's contract and summon the Russian ambassador. President Vladimir Putin has denied these accusations, claiming Germany lacks evidence and suggesting the charges are linked to Germany's internal political difficulties.

Within Germany, reactions to the government's response vary. A center left source reports that some politicians, such as CDU member Roderich Kiesewetter, believe the measures are merely symbolic and insufficient. Kiesewetter argued that the Russian House should have been closed earlier for security reasons and called for consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty to address the threat of further sabotage or terror attacks. Meanwhile, a center right source notes that there were internal government debates regarding the timing of publicly blaming Russia for the drone incident, with some ministers initially cautioning that public accusations could jeopardize investigations or require more time to prepare for Russian retaliation.