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🇵🇱 Poland /Culture & Society

Moscow responds to Berlin: “The end of their cultural presence in Russia”

From Rzeczpospolita · () Polish

Translated from Polish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Sergei Lavrov said Russia would close Goethe-Institut facilities after Germany announced the closure of the Russian House in Berlin.
  • Lavrov called Berlin’s decision the end of Germany’s cultural presence in Russia, which currently includes centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk.
  • The dispute follows German accusations that Russia was behind an attempted attack at Leipzig airport and Berlin’s decision to close Russia’s Bonn consulate and Berlin cultural center.

Sergei Lavrov has announced the closure of Goethe-Institut facilities in Russia in retaliation for Germany’s decision to shut the Russian House cultural center in Berlin.

“Of course they will be closed, after our cultural center was expelled,” Lavrov said during a lecture organized by the Russian Knowledge Society on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum. He said Germany had “deliberately taken a step that it must have known meant the end of its cultural presence in the Russian Federation.”

Of course they will be closed, after our cultural center was expelled

· Sergei LavrovLavrov’s response to Germany’s decision to close the Russian House in Berlin.

The Goethe-Institut operates three sites in Russia, in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk. Lavrov said that presence had continued despite what he called the upheaval in relations with the West over Ukraine. The first Goethe-Institut in Russia opened in Moscow in 1992, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The organization, which operates on behalf of Germany’s Foreign Ministry, promotes the German language, international cultural cooperation and Germany’s image.

deliberately taken a step that it must have known meant the end of its cultural presence in the Russian Federation

· Sergei LavrovLavrov’s characterization of Germany’s cultural-policy decision.

The cultural dispute follows a broader confrontation over an incident at Leipzig airport. Germany openly accused Russia of responsibility for an attempted attack after a cargo plane collided with an unidentified object near the airport during the night of Aug. 4-5. Shortly beforehand, airport operations had been suspended after a drone fitted with a detonator and explosives was found near a Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Sept. 1 that Russia was responsible. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul then announced that Germany would close Russia’s consulate general in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the accusations, saying they reflected Germany’s internal political situation and represented “another mistake, a serious mistake” contrary to German interests.

another mistake, a serious mistake

· Vladimir PutinPutin’s description of Germany’s accusations that Russia was behind the Leipzig airport incident.
About this summary

Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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