Germany Considers Closing Berlin’s Russian House
Germany is considering shutting down the Russian House cultural center in Berlin as concerns grow over Moscow’s hybrid operations in the country, including a recent explosive-laden drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport.
The German government is reviewing the international legal basis for the Russian House and has not ruled out terminating a bilateral agreement that allows it to operate, according to Der Spiegel.
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“Given Russia’s actions against German cultural intermediaries and organizations, as well as against the backdrop of Russia’s increasing hybrid activities, the federal government is comprehensively and continuously reviewing the international treaty basis of the Russian House,” Germany’s Foreign Ministry said.
That review includes a 2011 agreement governing the activities of Russian and German cultural and information centers.
The agreement can be terminated every five years. Germany’s next opportunity would take effect in June 2027, but Berlin would have to notify Moscow by Dec. 6, 2026.
Until recently, German authorities had been reluctant to move against the Russian House because the same framework also covers Germany’s Goethe Institute presence in Russia, raising the prospect that Moscow would retaliate against German cultural institutions.
But Der Spiegel reported that terminating the agreement is no longer considered taboo in Berlin.
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The tougher debate comes amid mounting concern over Russian hybrid activity in Germany.
Earlier this month, an explosive-laden drone was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft. Germany’s federal prosecutors took over the investigation, while Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incident as a possible “hybrid attack scenario” involving a foreign power.
Dobrindt subsequently warned that Germany had become the target of hybrid warfare on a daily basis, citing espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks and covert operations by foreign powers.
The Russian House, located on Berlin’s Friedrichstrasse, is operated by Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian government agency placed under EU sanctions in July 2022 following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Its assets in the European Union have been frozen.
The sprawling seven-story center opened in 1984 in what was then East Berlin and has traditionally hosted concerts, exhibitions, language courses and cultural events.