Russia to close Goethe-Institutes after Germany targets Russian cultural centre, state media says

Russia says the Goethe-Institutes in the country will close after Germany announced the closure of the Russian House in Berlin, escalating a dispute that began with a drone found in Leipzig.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the move would respond to Berlin’s decision, according to Interfax. “Of course they will be closed after our cultural centre was driven out from there, in Berlin,” Lavrov said at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

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Of course they will be closed after our cultural centre was driven out from there, in Berlin.

The German government had blamed Russia for an attempted attack after the drone was discovered and announced new security measures against possible Russian attacks. Berlin also planned to close Russia’s consulate general in Bonn and had summoned the Russian ambassador. German officials suspect the Russian House in Berlin of serving as cover for Russian espionage.

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Open provocation

The measures include tighter entry checks for Russian citizens and tougher action against Russia’s shadow fleet. The Goethe-Institut operates its main office in Moscow as well as cultural facilities in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. Lavrov said Berlin was knowingly accepting that closing the Russian House would mean the end of Russia’s cultural presence in the Russian Federation.

Moscow rejected what it called completely unfounded allegations of Russian involvement in the Leipzig airport incident. It described Germany’s actions as an “open provocation” intended to undermine Russian-German relations and warned that the Foreign Ministry would deliver a “harsh response.” Russia has signalled further countermeasures, including a possible closure of its consulate general in St Petersburg. Both countries have previously closed consulates in response to sanctions.

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A harsh response will follow.