Germany Weighs Closing Berlin’s ‘Russian House’ Amid Rising Hybrid Threats

Germany is contemplating the closure of the Russian House cultural center in Berlin due to escalating worries over Moscow's hybrid operations within the country. This comes in the wake of a recent incident involving an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport, which was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane. The German government is currently evaluating the international legal standing of the Russian House and has not ruled out the possibility of ending a bilateral agreement that permits its operation, according to Der Spiegel.

Foreign Ministry spokespersons have disclosed that the federal government is thoroughly and persistently examining the treaty basis for the Russian House, taking into account Moscow's recent hybrid activities. This assessment encompasses a 2011 agreement governing the operations of Russian and German cultural and information centers, which can be dissolved every five years. The next opportunity for termination would arise in June 2027, provided that Germany formally notifies Moscow by December 6, 2026.

Previously, German authorities have been cautious about taking action against the Russian House, as the same framework also governs Germany's Goethe Institute presence in Russia. This has raised concerns that Moscow could retaliate against German cultural institutions. However, Berlin is now contemplating termination of the agreement more seriously. This shift in stance is fueled by growing concerns over Russian hybrid activity in the country.

Earlier this month, an explosive-laden drone was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport near a Ukrainian cargo plane. Germany's federal prosecutors have taken over the investigation, with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt describing the incident as a potential "hybrid attack scenario" involving a foreign power. Dobrindt further warned that Germany has become a daily target of hybrid warfare, encompassing espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks, and covert operations by foreign entities.

The Russian House, situated on Berlin's Friedrichstrasse, is run by Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian government agency sanctioned by the EU in July 2022 following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Its assets within the European Union have been frozen. The complex, which covers seven stories, has been a hub for concerts, exhibitions, language courses, and cultural events since its opening in 1984.