Germany’s Goethe-Institut announced it will close all its branches in Russia by September 13, marking one of the most severe downturns in relations between Moscow and Berlin. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously ordered the shutdown of the German cultural centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk. This directive serves as a direct response to Berlin’s allegations that Moscow orchestrated an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport in early August.
Following the attack, German authorities blamed Russia and imposed sanctions that include the termination of the lease for the Russian House in Berlin and the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn. In addition, visa restrictions for Russian citizens have been tightened.
“All employees must cease their work in Russia as of September 13, 2026,” stated Gitte Zschoch, Secretary General of the Goethe-Institut. She emphasized that the closure eliminates library borrowing and halts all training programs, depriving German language teachers of professional support and further restricting Russians’ access to reliable information about Germany.
The move comes as the Goethe-Institut faces broader geopolitical pressure. Since the onset of Russia’s war in Ukraine in 2022, demand for its services has declined but remained significant. In 2025, approximately 10,000 individuals studied German through the institute’s programs, down from around 16,000 prior to 2023. The organization also administered roughly 22,000 exams and recorded 6,700 library visits that year.
Responses from DW users in Russia, shared anonymously due to the media outlet’s labeling as an “undesirable organization,” highlight the personal impact of the decision. Many fear they will be unable to take internationally recognized German language exams without traveling abroad. This is particularly concerning for ethnic Germans and late repatriates seeking to relocate to Germany.
One reader described the added stress and expense on parents who must now take exams in another country. Another parent noted that their child, who attends a German school, will face similar barriers to continuing education in Germany.
The closure also severely affects educators. A German teacher from the Moscow region, whose school partnered with the institute for over 15 years, expressed feeling professionally stranded. She noted that the partnership was vital for providing high-quality teaching materials and modern publications. Other teachers reported difficulty finding employment in Russia, describing a sense of professional isolation.
While some readers view the closure as an unfortunate consequence of political decisions that harm ordinary citizens, others blame Germany for the deterioration of ties. One participant argued that Germany initiated the breakdown in cultural cooperation by shutting down the Russian House. The bilateral agreement from 2011 governing these centers requires reciprocity but does not mandate automatic closure in response to actions taken by the other side.
Gesche Joost, President of the Goethe-Institut, described the closure as “the end of an era” in German-Russian cultural relations. The Goethe-Institut currently operates 154 branches across 100 countries, with the three Russian locations now being closed.
The language programs are gone now. Who helps teachers with materials when they’re already isolated by politics? This hurts educators most.
Does this actually change anything for the average Russian citizen? Seems like both sides are just escalating unnecessarily again.
A shame, really. Those exam centers were vital for professional certification here. Now it’s an expensive trip abroad for everything.
Just another example of culture always becoming collateral damage in geopolitical conflicts. We lose human connections, not just buildings.