Russia to close German cultural centers after drone incident

Russia announced it will close all branches of Germany's Goethe-Institut cultural centers in response to Germany's recent actions against Russian cultural facilities. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on September 3 that the centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg would be shut down. This move comes after Germany blamed Russia for a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport, leading Germany to close a Russian cultural center in Berlin and a consulate in Bonn. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously accused Germany of fabricating evidence to implicate Moscow in the incident. Lavrov indicated that Germany's decision to halt the operation of the Russian center in Berlin was a deliberate step, signifying the end of Germany's cultural presence in Russia. He noted that the centers had remained open despite ongoing tensions with the West over Ukraine. Russia's first Goethe-Institut was established in Moscow in 1992. This is not the first time Russia has ordered the closure of foreign cultural institutions; it previously closed Britain's British Council in 2018 following a diplomatic dispute. Lavrov's deputy, Alexander Grushko, had previously stated that Russia would retaliate swiftly for the closure of the Bonn consulate. Britain has summoned the Russian charge d'affaires to condemn an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport last month after the German government said that Russia was responsible for the incident. The UK stands in full solidarity with Germany following Russia's egregious and reckless attack on Leipzig Airport, adding that Russian attempts to undermine the resolve of Ukraine's allies were futile. This is the latest in a clear pattern of attempts by the Russian state to undermine our collective security, and that is why today we have summoned the Russian charge d'affaires to condemn the attack in the strongest terms. Russia has rejected the allegations, saying that they are entirely fabricated.