Russia to close German cultural centers after Berlin blames Moscow for airport drone plot
MOSCOW — Russia will shutter German cultural centers across the country, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday. The move comes after Berlin blamed Moscow for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport and announced the closure of both the Russian Consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in the German capital. Lavrov said that…
- Why it matters
- German and Russian citizens will lose access to each other's government-backed cultural institutions, narrowing channels for bilateral cultural exchange and deepening the diplomatic rift between the countries.
- Most affected
- German nationals in Russia — Unable to access German cultural centers and programming.
Russian nationals in Germany — Unable to access Russian cultural centers in Berlin and other German cities. - Likely next
- Whether either government expands or escalates closures beyond cultural institutions, or whether diplomatic talks attempt to reverse the measures.
Also reported by: The Independent, Euronews, The Moscow Times, Daily Sabah, ABC News, Local 10, KPRC 2, Local 4 Detroit, News4JAX, KSAT 12, Deccan Chronicle