Germany considers closing Russian House in Berlin after Leipzig drone incident – Spiegel

Germany's governing coalition is discussing possible measures against Russia following a drone incident at Leipzig airport, including the closure of the state-run Russian House cultural centre in Berlin.

Source: European Pravda, citing Spiegel

Details: According to the journalists, although Germany has not officially blamed Moscow for the incident at Leipzig airport, evidence pointing towards Russian involvement is reportedly growing, prompting the government to discuss possible responses.

Among the measures proposed is, for the first time, action against the Russian House, which operates on Friedrichstrasse in Berlin. Security officials suspect that the institution may be linked to espionage activities despite its cultural remit, while calls for measures against it have been made on previous occasions.

Those backing action include Roderich Kiesewetter, an expert on foreign policy for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU); Steffen Krach of the Social Democratic Party (SPD); and Konstantin von Notz, the Greens' domestic affairs expert.

The Russian House operates under two German-Russian agreements. One, signed in May 2013, grants Russia a 99-year lease on the premises. Another intergovernmental agreement, signed in February 2011, allows the arrangement to be reviewed and terminated every five years. The next such review date is 7 June 2027.

The same agreement governs the activities of the Goethe-Institut in Moscow and St Petersburg, so Berlin expects that German cultural centres in Russia could also be closed if such a move is made.

In response to journalists' questions, the German Foreign Ministry confirmed that discussions about the Russian House are taking place.

"In light of Russia's actions against German cultural institutions and organisations and against the backdrop of Russia's growing hybrid activities, the federal government is comprehensively and continuously reviewing the international legal framework governing the activities of the Russian House. This also applies to the agreement mentioned in the question," the ministry said.

A preliminary political decision could be made before the end of August, when federal ministers are due to hold a retreat at Neuhardenberg Castle next week.

Background:

• Moldova closed the Russian House in Chișinău after issuing a warning to the organisation in December 2025.
• The decision followed another incident involving Russian UAVs crashing on Moldovan territory after being used to attack Ukrainian ports in Odesa Oblast.

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