Germany Says Russia’s Closure of Goethe-Institut Branches ‘Very Regrettable’
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described Russia’s decision to close branches of the Goethe-Institut as “very regrettable” and said Berlin saw no justification for the move.
“The Goethe-Institut earns its place every day by fostering thriving cultural relations and social exchange between Russia and Germany — and has done so under the most difficult conditions since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” Wadephul told dpa hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the retaliatory step.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with his French and Polish counterparts in Weimar, Wadephul said the measure would only compound the damage already done to Russian-German ties. “Against this backdrop, the measure now announced by the Russian Federation is very regrettable, as it further damages our relations.”
He insisted that Moscow’s response was unjustified. Berlin’s decision to close the Russian House in Berlin was itself a direct response to the discovery of an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig airport last month, he said. The drone failed to detonate. Germany formally attributed the incident to Russia on Tuesday, and the Russian Foreign Ministry subsequently summoned Germany’s chargé d’affaires in Moscow to protest German sanctions. Russia denies any involvement in the drone incident.
“The Russian House had long since ceased to live up to its name as a ‘House of Science and Culture,’” Wadephul said. “I am saying this very clearly: it serves neither culture nor science.” Russia, he added, must decide what kind of relations it wants with Germany.
The Goethe-Institut has been one of the last German institutions still active in Russia. Its main Russian office is in Moscow, and it maintains cultural centers in other cities. Most German-affiliated foundations and organizations have been placed on Russia’s “undesirable” list, a designation that effectively bars them from operating in the country.
The practical impact will not be limited to the classrooms and concert programs run by the institute. Because Moscow has already classified most German-affiliated organizations as “undesirable,” the Goethe-Institut is one of the few remaining bridges for direct exchange; closing it removes a rare space that may be difficult to rebuild under current conditions. The immediate trigger is a bitter dispute over sanctions and a drone, but the effects of this decision are likely to be felt in Russian-German relations well beyond that standoff.