Russia to open 11 more ‘Russian Houses’ worldwide — as Germany closes one in Berlin
Rossotrudnichestvo has agreed to open 11 new “Russian Houses” abroad, agency head Igor Chaika announced.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rossotrudnichestvo, announced on September 1 that it will open 11 additional "Russian Houses" globally. Eight of these new houses will be established in African nations, marking the network's expansion into the CIS for the first time, although specific countries have not been disclosed. The agency's director, Igor Chaika, emphasized that the performance of these "Russian Houses" will be evaluated based on their success in promoting the Russian language, Russian education, and the execution of cultural, youth, scientific, and humanitarian initiatives.
Russian cultural centers, known as "Russian Houses," are administered by Rossotrudnichestvo and serve to promote Russian culture, acting as a form of "soft power." They have previously been active in various European nations prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with several still operational today, including one in Berlin.
On September 1, German authorities announced they would close the "Russian House" in Berlin and the consulate general in Bonn following Russia's accusation that Germany was responsible for a sabotage attack at Leipzig Airport. In retaliation, Russia announced plans to close the Goethe-Institut and the German consulate in St. Petersburg.
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