Goethe Institute chief laments 'ending era' with last Russia closures

Goethe Institute President Gesche Joost laments the "end of an era" in German-Russian cultural ties as Moscow decides to close the organization's remaining centres in Russia amid Ukraine war tensions.

The closure of the Goethe Institute's centres in Russia follows the termination of the contract for the operation of the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin, suspected of fronting a spy network.

Berlin holds Moscow responsible for a recent drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport and announces sanctions against Russia, leading to expressions of regret from the German Cultural Council over the closure of the last three Goethe Institute centres in Russia.

German-Russian cultural ties have reached the "end of an era," Goethe Institute President Gesche Joost said on Thursday after Moscow's decision to shut the organization's remaining centres in the country amid Ukraine war tensions.

"For people in Russia who are learning our language and visiting our libraries, the end of our work there is bad news," said Joost, who has led Germany's worldwide cultural entity since November 2024.

This work in Russia had "already been increasingly restricted in recent years," according to Joost, noting that the number of staff had already been cut back since 2023.

This had left the remaining staff to carry out "vital work under the most difficult conditions," she said. The Goethe Institute now intends to discuss its next steps with the German Foreign Office.

According to the Interfax news agency, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had announced the closure of its last three centres in Russia during a visit to Vladivostok on Thursday.

Earlier, news had emerged of the termination of the contract for the operation of the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin. Ostensibly there to promote Russian language and culture, the state-funded centre is suspected of fronting a spy network.

Berlin holds Moscow responsible for last month's attempted attack using an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport and has announced a list of sanctions against Russia, including the termination of the contract.

The German Cultural Council also expressed regret at the Russian decision to close the three centres in Moscow, St Petersburg and Novosibirsk.

"Now the very last doors to cultural exchange between Germany and Russia are being shut," said the council's executive director Olaf Zimmermann. "The Goethe Institute was one of the last seeds of exchange between the two countries."