Story perspectives

Goethe-Institut to close Russia branches by September 2026

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 2:36 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Goethe-Institut will close its Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk branches by 13 September 2026.
Gitte Zschoch said all seconded staff must cease work and leave Russia by that deadline.
The closures follow Berlin’s shutdown of Russia’s House and its Bonn consulate after a Leipzig/Halle Airport drone attack.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the move retaliation for Germany’s actions against Russian diplomatic and cultural sites.

History

Historical Context

In 2014 the EU imposed its broadest sanctions on Russia after the Crimean annexation, prompting Germany under Chancellor Angela Merkel to cut cultural ties, withdraw €12 million and close five Goethe-Institut sites, displacing about 300 staff. The institute’s 2026 order to evacuate employees in Moscow, St Petersburg and Novosibirsk repeats that 2014 pullback. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denounces the move as retaliatory, signalling deepening cultural estrangement.

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Story summary

Goethe-Institut will close its Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk branches by 13 September 2026.
Gitte Zschoch said all seconded staff must cease work and leave Russia by that deadline.
The closures follow Berlin’s shutdown of Russia’s House and its Bonn consulate after a Leipzig/Halle Airport drone attack.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the move retaliation for Germany’s actions against Russian diplomatic and cultural sites.

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