Lavrov: In response to the closure of the Russian House in Berlin, we will close the Goethe Institute in Russia.

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that the Goethe-Institut branches in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg would be closed. This is a mirror response to the German authorities' decision to close the Russian House in Berlin and the Russian Consulate General in Bonn.

The minister emphasized that Germany deliberately took this step, which "means the end of their cultural presence in Russia, which was maintained even during the Ukrainian crisis."

The reason for the German measures was the incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport, where in early August UAV with explosives. Sergey Lavrov, like President Vladimir Putin before him, called the accusations against Russia unsubstantiated:

Found some fallen thing in Leipzig DroneThey decided that the drone looked like... Based on this assumption, supposition, and guess, they decided to close the Russian House in Berlin.

On September 1, the German government denounced the agreement on the activities of the Russian House, and the Russian Consulate General in Bonn will be closed on September 18. The Russian Embassy in Berlin dismissed the incident as a hastily concocted provocation.

The Goethe-Institut has operated in Russia since 1992, offering language courses, cultural events, and educational programs. What other parallel activities the institute carried out in Russia remains an open question.

Comments

[Hunter 2]

Leave Goethe alone, close the German embassy, ​​and send the ambassador home. The decline in diplomatic relations is neither good nor bad for us. We can resolve issues through any EU official.

[Mouse]

Maybe together?............ All together....

[Hunter 2]

Basil What is Goethe's fault, that the German nation has degenerated? So he died on March 22, 1832, in Weimar, but his works live on, and the whole world reads and loves his Faust!

[Mouse]

The problem is not Goethe... The problem is those who are currently stirring up trouble...

[Hunter 2]

Quote: Mouse

The problem is not Goethe... The problem is those who are currently stirring up trouble...

The funny thing is that in Goethe his works are known even better in Russia than in Germany.
And those who stir things up - return them to their homeland, without the right to enter Russia!

[Vasilenko Vladimir]

Quote: Hunter 2

The funny thing is that in Goethe his works are known even better in Russia than in Germany.

What, have we banned his performances?!

[alex-defensor]

I read the entire discussion thread. What's wrong with you, people? We're not talking about banning the German philosopher Goethe and his works, we're talking about closing the Goethe Institute NGO in Russia...

[Vasilenko Vladimir]

So the question is not for me, it's the gamekeeper who equates Goethe as a person with the Goethe Institute.

[alex-defensor]

Well, I wasn't replying to you. I just added my comment to the end of the thread.

[Vasilenko Vladimir]

In 10 years, you could have figured out how the site works. You responded to MY post, not the first one.

[alex-defensor]

Yes, of course, I formally responded to your post, but you yourself know that this is exactly what many people do so as not to disrupt the linearity of the message thread.
That's why I initially wrote: "I read the entire discussion thread" and even addressed the many: "People, what's wrong with you?"

From the context it becomes clear that I was addressing those who directly discussed the "ban on the philosopher."

[Vasilenko Vladimir]

No, if you had written it differently and responded to the first post, everything would have been fine. There's no linearity here.

[alex-defensor]

Hmm... that's weird, I thought after more than 10 years on the site you'd know...
Okay, let me explain: By responding in this way, my comment was firmly fixed in the 7th position in the comments at the top.
No amount of writing from anyone will be able to change this.
Well, that's how comments are displayed on this site.

[jack no]

Si tu as lu toutes les contributions, pourquoi ne pas poster ton message à la suite, qui apparaitra à la fin.
Au lieu de cela, je constate des contributions qui s'accrochent pour être le plus haut possible, leurs réponses n'ont rien à voir avec le contenu.

[alex-defensor]

Because no one ever looks at the end of the comment list. And there's no sorting option on this site.

If only the site could sort by newness, popularity, number of nested reply comments... or by the combined number of comments and positive reactions in a thread...

[carpenter]

Quote: alex-defensor

We are talking about the closure of the non-profit organization "Goethe Institute" in Russia...

Moreover, this non-profit organization is politicized.
In 2023, due to the changing political situation, the German Foreign Ministry decided to terminate the Goethe-Institut's operations in the Russian Federation. Branches were closed, and cultural interactions were limited to remote formats.
So it should have been closed a long time ago.

[Mouse]

How would they know? They burned everything...

[Andobor]

Quote: Hunter 2

What is Goethe's fault?

It should be understood that the Goethe Institute is not Faust, it is "Kolya from Urengoy".

[Hunter 2]

Quote: Andobor

It should be understood that the Goethe Institute is not Faust, it is "Kolya from Urengoy".

Aren't you ashamed to put the name of a genius next to an imbecile?

[Andobor]

Quote: Hunter 2

Aren't you ashamed to put the name of a genius next to an imbecile?

"Kolya from Urengoy" is the result of the work of the Goethe Institute.

[Hunter 2]

Quote: Andobor

"Kolya from Urengoy" is the result of the work of the Goethe Institute.

This is the result of the work of those who shouldn't have been allowed to come to Russia in the first place. Goethe is not at all to blame. The institute's mission is to popularize the German language and promote international cultural cooperation, helping people learn German and become acquainted with German culture. It doesn't mention politics. My son is learning German there remotely, and he responded harshly to a timid attempt at gentle "recruitment," and there have been no further attempts. Everything depends on the individual, on their moral core.

[Andobor]

Quote: Hunter 2

He responded harshly to a timid attempt at soft “recruitment,” and there were no more attempts.

Yes, that's how they work, that's why it's called "soft power".

[stankow]

No, their courses are a direct preparation for emigration. Treason. And you won't see any grandchildren!

[Gimlet]

The institute's mission is to popularize the German language and promote international cultural cooperation, helping people learn German and become acquainted with German culture. It doesn't mention politics.

It all seems so beautiful, orderly, and noble! And it's completely unclear why such an institution is being shut down? And some of the commentators here even support this plan? Right, Okhotoved 2?

...he responded harshly to a timid attempt at soft “recruitment,” and there were no more attempts.

So far or not yet? Are you sure you or your son can accurately distinguish between all the recruitment methods? And why haven't you included "soft recruitment" in the institute's list of tasks?

It all depends on the person, on his moral core.

Well, you're lucky with your son. "He should be used to make nails!"
What about others? Those who haven't yet developed a strong core? What about those who can't spot soft recruitment attempts? Any advice?
It's a bit odd, Okhotoved: In response to "Kolya from Urengoy" and "...Goethe," you said, "Where's Goethe and where's Kolya!?" And Goethe and "soft recruitment" don't bother you? Doesn't it surprise you? Everything's fine, right?
P.S. I distinguish between Goethe and the Goethe Institute.

[carpenter]

Quote: Hunter 2

My son is studying German there remotely, and he responded harshly to a timid attempt at gentle “recruitment,” and there were no more attempts.

It turns out that a non-profit organization, bearing the name of the great Goethe, was engaged in "soft recruitment." Goethe has nothing to do with it, and no one blames him. The blame lies with those who gave it that name and those who allowed NGOs to be established in their countries.
For some reason there is no Pushkin Institute in Germany.

[Bayun]

In the family, not without "Kolya".

Ten percent of these organizations are "about spies." But 90% are about the interpenetration of cultures and the everyday human interactions of people who have been "taught languages."

[Andobor]

Quote: Bayun

In the family, not without "Kolya".

Yes, not everyone transfers their money to a "safe account" upon call, but there are "Koli" ones, otherwise they wouldn't work.

[Bayun]

Another question: did they recruit more "Kolyas" here through the Institute, or did we recruit more "Hansas"? I suppose, those-who-are-needed, WITHOUT EMOTIONS They will assess the situation and correct their comrades from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, if necessary)

[Andobor]

Quote: Bayun

Another question: did they recruit more "Kolyas" here through the Institute, or did we recruit "Hansas"?

In 2025, 1334 people left Germany for Russia under the state voluntary return program, reports the German magazine Stern, citing the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
Of course these are "our" Germans, but they were under their information cap there.

[Bayun]

I wouldn't be surprised if, after some time, white people from the EU migrate en masse to Rus'. Such an "exodus" already occurred during the Eurorevolutions of the 19th century.

[Amin_vivec]

This is not just “our Germans”, this is the work of the “Russian House” in particular.

[Vasilenko Vladimir]

Quote: Hunter 2

What is Goethe's fault for the degeneration of the German nation?

Well, there is a significant difference between Goethe and the Goethe Institute.

[bober1982]

Quote: Hunter 2

and his works are alive, and the whole world reads and loves his Faust!

It seems to me that you are greatly exaggerating.
There was a famous Russian philosopher of his time, Khomyakov, he - Alexey Stepanovich, rightly called Goethe a dirty German.

[Murmur 55]

Okhotoved2, you're wrong. The institute IS named after Goethe, but what are modern-day Deutsche doing under that banner? I wonder. If the institute had been named after Mozart, Bach, or someone else, and under its auspices they recruited our youth or promoted their values, wouldn't it have been closed? Or is there no one left to explain who Goethe was without this "institute" and why Germany is the birthplace of many outstanding cultural figures?

[Atheist]

And what are modern Deutsche doing under this sign, that's the question

So, the institute has been operating since 1992, and the Russian government is only now asking what it's doing? One might assume they would have continued to turn a blind eye to this activity (the West's "corrupting influence" being completely ignored) if not for the current situation. Everything here is blatantly obvious, "Comrade" Foreign Minister.

[Murmur 55]

Ate _ist You're right about that, but there's a catch. Everyone knows that the Embassy label often carries out activities that are not at all diplomatic, and everyone turns a blind eye for the time being, and no one stopped us from opening institutes of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, and conducting activities that are beneficial to OUR country.

[Atheist]

No one stopped us from opening institutes of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Pushkin and conducting activities beneficial to OUR country.

The question isn't whether the activities of public organizations (not diplomatic missions) are beneficial to our country. The question is whether these activities conflict with the interests of the destination country. It happens that in some cases, interests may coincide. I assure you that any Russian public organization operating in a foreign country whose activities conflict with the latter's interests will be closed immediately.

[Amin_vivec]

There was a cultural exchange agreement between Russia and Germany. Under the agreement, the Germans opened the Goethe Institute in Moscow, and we opened the Russian House in Berlin.
They closed the Russian House, which means they broke the agreement, and the institute is also going home. It's simple.
All the Russian authorities saw, and the Russian House was simply doing the same thing.

[Atheist]

Everything is simple

So, you're claiming that both public organizations were engaged in illegal activities on foreign soil and that the authorities turned a blind eye? That's highly doubtful, as these aren't diplomatic missions with special status.

[Amin_vivec]

Illegal?
They collected information, made contacts with people they were interested in and carried out their propaganda; we collected information, made contacts and also carried out our propaganda.
As long as you stay within the rules, everything is legal here. And to ensure that the rules are not violated, specially trained personnel should be on hand.

[lego2]

Well, there are no complaints about Goethe, but about the institute.

[Vend]

Quote: Hunter 2

Basil What is Goethe's fault, that the German nation has degenerated? So he died on March 22, 1832, in Weimar, but his works live on, and the whole world reads and loves his Faust!

There's been no Goethe in the Goethe House for a long time now, only Russophobic policies. It's a cover for the enemy. And no one in Russia has banned or burned Goethe's works.

[Vasilenko Vladimir]

So no one touches Goethe

[topol717]

Quote: Hunter 2

Close the German embassy and send the ambassador home.

They will close our embassy in the same way.

Quote: Hunter 2

The decline in the level of diplomatic relations is neither good nor bad for us.

Any embassy/consulate is, first and foremost, an intelligence agency. And we need it.

[Amin_vivec]

The Goethe-Institut was opened by mutual agreement. Russian House and the Goethe-Institut have been linked by this agreement from the very beginning.

[Derbenev Anton]

Instead of closing the institute, we could ban boarding up Lenin's Mausoleum with plywood on May 9th in memory of fallen Soviet soldiers. That would be a real blow to fascism.

[tralflot1832]

I went to their website, intending to write a farewell message. But it wasn't meant to be. Thanks to Merz, the branches of the Goethe Institutes in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Novosibirsk will be closing. Basic knowledge of German is genetically inherited among Russians. Why do we need their teachers? What will they teach us? By the way, what's going on with "Kolya from Urengoy"?

[Smoked]

Logically, everything should be fine with Kolya. His mother was a successful lawyer with a good practice, and his father worked at Rosneft. I don't think there's any need to worry about him.

[sanja.grw]

Quote: tralflot1832

By the way, how is the fate of "Kolya from Urengoy"?

You beat me to it, this jerk accidentally took courses in the wrong place (Goethe Institutes)

[Andobor]

Quote: tralflot1832

What's going on with "Kolya from Urengoy"?

They closed "Kolya from Urengoy" - this is the result of the Goethe Institute's work.

[ohka]

Basic knowledge is Hände hoch and Hitler kaputt?

[Gardamir]

Nikolai Desyatnichenko (known as "Kolya from Urengoy" after his high-profile speech in the Bundestag in 2017) had a peaceful life, despite the widespread public debate and media harassment he faced in eleventh grade. After graduating from school, Nikolai completely withdrew from public view and leads a private life. University Admission: Despite rumors on social media that he had immediately left for Germany, Nikolai remained in Russia. He successfully passed his exams and was accepted to a prestigious faculty at Surgut State University (SurSU). Change of Residence: Nikolai and his family later moved from the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug to the southern part of Russia, to the Krasnodar Krai. Privacy: Nikolai's profile on VKontakte and other social media is completely hidden from outsiders. He makes a point of not giving interviews, not commenting on the events of 2017, and not contacting journalists, trying to live a normal life.

[Gomunkul]

Also close the Yeltsin Center and recognize Gorbachev as a foreign agent (posthumously).

[Vasilenko Vladimir]

Gorbachev must be recognized as a traitor

[Gomunkul]

Gorbachev must be recognized as a traitor

This needs to be approached in stages. If we immediately declare someone a traitor, an investigation will need to be conducted, and then a situation may arise where, during the course of the investigation, we might come across ourselves.

[commbatant]

Quote: Vasilenko Vladimir

Gorbachev must be recognized as a traitor

Why only Gorbachev? He's not the only traitor to the USSR (and most of all to the RSFSR). He should be tried along with Shevardnadze and all members of the CPSU, the Politburo, and the governments of the USSR and RSFSR, who are guilty of squandering the lands and other property of the RSFSR.
Well, if we dig deeper, we will have to judge all political figures of the RSFSR / USSR starting from 1918 who harmed the RSFSR...

[Sgt.]

It would be better if the rocket fell, even without a charge.

[pudelartemon]

They shut down British Council in Russia. So, did anyone notice the "loss of a soldier"? Another spy nest in Russia.

[faterdom]

Small, Khobotov!
It is high time to close all EU missions and bodies, and recall their own at the same time.
The EU isn't a de jure state, but we're helping them legitimize the Fourth Reich. And the German embassy needs to be reduced to a temporary staff member plus five people to maintain the toilets, the car, and prepare the radiators for winter.

[Anthony]

Quote: tralflot1832

I went to their website, intending to write a farewell message. But it wasn't meant to be. Thanks to Merz, the branches of the Goethe Institutes in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Novosibirsk will be closing. Basic knowledge of German is genetically inherited among Russians. Why do we need their teachers? What will they teach us? By the way, what's going on with "Kolya from Urengoy"?

It seems to be in Austria and has been for a long time now.

[Yes it's me]

The internet says he teaches history there in Urengoy.

[Kuziming]

We need classical German culture; we just need to hand over these centers to our own staff. And let them develop tolerance and multiculturalism in Germany.

[Irek]

We will close another branch of the BND in Russia.

[gribanov.c]

Lavrov: In response to the closure of the Russian House in Berlin, we will close the Goethe Institute in Russia.

That's right, the application of this principle must be expanded and deepened in every possible way, on the global stage. And in response to Norway's seizure of the ship...?

[APASUS]

It's time to slowly shut down all these shops. I'd even evacuate the diplomats' families, and the provocations will reach them. Under this government, we have no place in Europe.

[rocket757]

Collateral damage...
For now this is how it is, but in the future... everything will be decided on the battlefield and only that way!

[Aleks1956OU]

Interesting answer?
On the one hand, these institutions have no impact on the lives of Russians, as no more than 18 citizens qualify there annually. This gives them the opportunity to improve their German language skills.

On the other hand, one can safely suspect all the full-time employees of these branches of being undercover agents of the German BND. And it's guaranteed!
Plus they also work to recruit our citizens 😀.

So the answer is mirror image, and that is correct.
But killing the consulate is extremely disadvantageous, first of all for us.
This means we need to look for conditions that will make Germany squeal.
For your information, there are more than 1600 German companies operating in Russia.
There are also retailers: Metro AG (Metro Cash & Carry hypermarket chain) is the largest remaining German business. Its headquarters are in Moscow, and 93 shopping centers operate throughout Russia. Globus (grocery hypermarket chain) continues to fully expand its network. Headquartered in Moscow, large stores operate in the Moscow, Tula, Vladimir, Ryazan, Kaluga, and Yaroslavl regions. I won't even mention the factories. We can't kill them; it's not profitable. However, changing the rules of the game is possible.
Well, and hydrocarbons, they go to Germany, via bypass routes.
As for UAVs, if we are accused, then we need to strike openly, with a warning.
Today your drones arrived, and tomorrow it’s officially ours!

[GueST90]

Just close the Yeltsin centers in Yekaterinburg. Thousands of Russians will thank you.

[kill the fascist]

Rumor has it that Yeltsin won't be able to close the center under Putin's leadership—he made personal promises/guarantees to Naina. But his successor could, with a clear conscience, shut down this rat-and-snake operation.

[ZnachWest]

Judging by the state's stagnation, he made promises to many people.

[ZnachWest]

Security guard? ) ........ Lars is also written with a capital letter...

[kill the fascist]

Upper Lars client?

[cat Crush]

Well, I'm not sure about "thousands of thanks." But millions of Russians would definitely say so.

[ZnachWest]

Firstly, it's appeared in Moscow too. Secondly, all you have to do is rename it. And take down the monument. People will stop going to this hellhole. And the building itself is quite decent.

[foxes]

And more "answers" again. So, shouldn't all these shady companies have been shut down beforehand? Are you still deluding yourself about a return to the Western world?

[Waifu]

It seems you were downvoted by the "applicants" of the Goethe Institute.

[Maks1995]

And what?
Like childhood rivalries.
They showed off their organ. They promised to show off theirs here, saying it's just as good...
or as the joke goes, "Let's hit Voronezh"

By and large, this is not the level of wise leadership...
IMHO.

[Asker]

The measure isn't a big one; the minister didn't propose burning Goethe's books on Old Square, but merely reducing the number of soft power propagandists. Hopes that things will return to normal and return to normal are still high on Olympus.

[Voskolina]

A simply MIRROR-GLASS answer. I'm already tired of listening to yet another whining response.

[Jacques sekavar]

In response to the closure of the Russian House in Berlin, we will close the Goethe Institute in Russia – the wrong decision.

[snow mountain]

Quote: Gomunkul

Close the Yeltsin Center and recognize Gorbachev as a foreign agent (posthumously).

This is what needs to be done first!

[foxes]

They definitely won't close it if it's irreplaceable. Alas.

[ZnachWest]

This is a "I'll shoot off my own leg so my mother-in-law has a lame son-in-law" kind of decision. And if the institute's activities were detrimental to Russia, then that's a question for the Russian state.

[commbatant]

This is a logical decision by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; on the other hand, it was imposed on the Russian Federation and is more in line with Germany's demands.

But until now, the main obstacle to this for the German side has been the legal link between the RDNK's work in Germany and the functioning of its German counterpart in Russia, the Goethe-Institut. Or, as diplomats say, the principle of reciprocity. In other words, if the Russian cultural center ceases its operations, the same fate must befall the German organization.

https://dzen.ru/a/aph2fMSWjwEsgBcr?ysclid=mtl82al8nz130798684

[call sign_53]

Our answer to Angela Merkel: Rename the Goethe Institute to the Heine Institute and that's it.
For reference: When the Nazis came to power, Heine's books were demonstratively burned, he himself was banned and declared a degenerate.

[Rockerman]

The small-time Britons are succeeding in their quest to tear Germany away from Russia; all points of no return have already been passed. For the small-time Britons, the Germans were the only worthy competitors in Europe, so they are methodically and purposefully, not exactly destroying, but rather crushing Germany.

[Kostadinov]

It was high time to close this German Goethe Institute and replace it with a Russian institute of the same name. This could have been a demonstration of complete ideological superiority.

[Wildcat]

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that the Goethe Institute's branches in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg would be closed.

"The Goethe-Institut is a world leader in the field of advanced training for teachers of German as a foreign language." A very good decision, no need to learn German, better - the North Korean dialect and the Abkhaz language.
And raise taxes and utility bills so that the Germans will be ashamed.

And Lavrov didn’t say anything about Voronezh?

[sergiogerasimo]

Lavrov is already 76 years old, there's no successor, he hasn't prepared one. Until 2022, he catered to the Americans in every way, and now he's feigning patriotism. But the last person to attack Goethe was Hitler. So Lavrov, in the same vein, has found culprits, harmless lovers of high culture. He's not strong enough to stand up to the Nazi Merz, who's still alive.

[guest]

Let's close the Goethe Institute in Russia

It was high time to close this snake pit.

[Masters]

"The Goethe-Institut had been operating in Russia since 1992, offering language courses, cultural events, and educational programs. What other activities the institute carried out in Russia is an open question." None at all; only old women worked there. They taught German, then administered exams. Some of the most agile ones earned extra money as tutors.

[vfwfr]

First, close the Yeltsin Center... You don't have the guts...

[mErLin68]

There are so many idiots on both sides...