Russia Will Close Germany’s Goethe-Institut Cultural Centers, Lavrov Says

Sep. 3, 2026 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Dmitry Belitsky / Moskva News Agency Russia will close Germany's Goethe-Institut cultural centers, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday, after German officials ordered the closure of the Russian cultural center in Berlin as retaliation for a drone incident at the Leipzig/Halle Airport that they blamed on Moscow. Germany also ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn in response to what it said was an attempted attack at the airport. This week, President Vladimir Putin accused Germany of planting evidence in order to blame Moscow for the incident. Lavrov said Russia would close the Goethe-Institut centers in the cities of Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg as retaliation for the closure of the Russian cultural center in Berlin. "Of course, they will be closed after our cultural center was kicked out," Lavrov said on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. The centers had stayed open "despite all the Ukrainian complications in our relations with the West," he added. Russia's first Goethe-Institut opened in Moscow in 1992, soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Germany , Lavrov Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Lavrov Calls German Army Plans ‘Very Worrying’ Russia’s Foreign Minister suggested that Berlin could “cause trouble,” just as it had during “the last century, when Germany twice became the leading... 1 Min read Russian Foreign Minister’s Secret Mistress Wields Ministry Influence, Owns Elite Property – iStories Svetlana Polyakova, who has worked at the Foreign Ministry since 2014, reportedly has a “long-standing and very close” relationship with Lavrov. Russia Accuses U.S. of Forcing Afghans on Central Asia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that U.S. forces are "pawning off" Afghans fleeing the Taliban to Moscow's allies in Central Asia. Russia Returns Gifted Orthodox Icon to Bosnia After East Ukraine Controversy Media reported that the icon was taken from the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine which is controlled by pro-Russian rebels.