Russia decided to close all Goethe Institute branches in the country, a retaliatory measure after Germany closed the Russian House. This decision comes in the context of diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, justified the measure stating that, if they didn't make this decision, the Russians would not be respecting themselves. The closure was announced as a direct response to German actions.
The Goethe Institute is Germany's official cultural organization abroad, responsible for promoting German language and culture. Its closure in Russia marks a new escalation in bilateral relations between the two countries.
Moscow's decision represents a new chapter in the deterioration of cultural and diplomatic relations between Russia and Germany, which had already been facing multiple tensions in recent years.
