Russia Orders Closure of Goethe-Institut Sites in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg

Key facts

• On September 3, 2026, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the closure of Goethe-Institut sites in Russia at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
• The closure affects the Goethe-Institut in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the partner center in Yekaterinburg.
• The decision follows new German sanctions against Russia announced on September 1, 2026, which included closing the Russian consulate in Bonn and terminating the agreement for the Russian House in Berlin.
• The German sanctions were a response to an explosive-laden drone found near a Ukrainian aircraft at Leipzig airport in early August, linked to Russian state services.
• The Kremlin denies involvement in the drone incident, and President Vladimir Putin called the German measure a 'gross mistake'.
• The Goethe-Institut is a non-profit organization founded in 1951 to promote German language and culture abroad.
• The first Goethe-Institut in Russia opened in Moscow in 1992, followed by St. Petersburg in 1993 and Yekaterinburg in 2003.
• Since 2023, the Moscow and St. Petersburg sites have operated at reduced capacity, mainly as libraries, with language courses provided by external partners.
• The Novosibirsk site, opened in 2009, has functioned as a contact office since 2023.
• The Kremlin has not specified a closure date for the three sites.