Germany’s Goethe-Institut has announced the closure of all its branches in Russia by Sunday, marking one of the most significant ruptures in bilateral relations between Berlin and Moscow. The decision comes in retaliation for the Russian Foreign Ministry’s order to shut down German cultural centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk. This escalation followed Germany’s attribution of responsibility to Moscow for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport earlier in August, which prompted Berlin to impose sanctions including the closure of the Russian House in Berlin and the Russian Consulate General in Bonn.
In a formal statement, Goethe-Institut Secretary General Gitte Zschoch confirmed that all employees must cease operations in Russia starting September 13, 2026. “No more books can be borrowed from our libraries, and no further training can be offered,” Zschoch said. She emphasized that the closure leaves German language teachers without crucial professional support and severely restricts access to German language, culture, and factual information for people living in Russia.
The closures have sparked concern among Russian residents regarding their academic and professional futures. Many DW readers expressed fear that they will be forced to travel abroad to sit for exams for internationally recognized German language certificates. The impact is expected to be particularly severe for ethnic Germans and late repatriates seeking to relocate to Germany. One reader noted that her parents, still residing in Russia, had planned to take these exams this fall before submitting resettlement documents, a process now complicated by the need to travel to another country.
Educational plans are also being disrupted for families with children attending German schools. Several respondents indicated that they will have to seek examination centers outside of Russia. It currently remains unclear whether language courses or educational programs will continue through alternative formats or partner organizations, though some users expressed hope that digital services might persist.
Beyond students, the shutdown deals a heavy blow to German language instructors within Russia. A teacher from the Moscow region highlighted a 15-year partnership with the institute that provided essential teaching materials and resources. Another educator described feeling “professionally stranded and lost” due to the lack of job prospects in the current climate.
Despite the geopolitical tensions dating back to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, demand for the institute’s services remained robust. In 2025, approximately 10,000 individuals participated in Goethe-Institut programs, a decline from the 16,000 recorded prior to 2023. The institute administered roughly 22,000 exams and its libraries saw 6,700 visitors in the same year.
Gesche Joost, president of the Goethe-Institut, described the move as “the end of an era in German-Russian cultural relations.” The global network comprises 154 branches across 100 countries, with the three Russian locations now closing.
Reactions from Russians varied, with many characterizing the closures as culture being held hostage to political decisions. Some users criticized politicians for isolating the country while simultaneously providing their own families with European educations. Others placed the blame squarely on Germany, arguing that Berlin buried cultural cooperation by closing the Russian House first. The 2011 bilateral agreement between the two nations governs the operation of these cultural centers on a reciprocal basis but does not mandate automatic closure in response to the other party’s actions.
Culture held hostage again? It is tragic that ordinary people pay the price for political fallout.
As a teacher here, I feel utterly stranded. Our professional lifeline is cut without warning.