After more than forty years, the Russian House in Berlin is coming to an end. According to German and French security services, there are indications that Russia is conducting espionage operations from this cultural institution. Last night, Germany announced the closure as retaliation for Russia's role in an assassination attempt in Leipzig.
The Russian House is already keeping its doors closed today. An employee denies the espionage accusations. "It is purely culture. There are language lessons, exhibitions, a cinema. Nothing political!"
Regular visitors encountered a closed door. "I have been coming here for ten years, for Russian food or the puppet theater. My daughter learned ballet here," says Michael Kanter from East Berlin. "It is a disgrace that everything Russian is being banned."
Suspicious Energy Usage
Research by the French intelligence service reportedly shows that the cultural program is a cover for espionage operations. The Russian embassy is said to have placed part of its activities in the cultural house.
There are several suspicious aspects about the House, says CDU Bundestag member Roderich Kiesewetter to NOS. "About a hundred Russians live there whose exact activities we do not know. People enter the building who are monitored by our services for certain reasons. And visitors are approached to see if they can do more for Russia."
The energy consumption is also higher than would be logical, Kiesewetter continues. "Therefore, we assume there are devices that do not necessarily have a cultural function." The building's concierge explains the high energy consumption by the air conditioning and two ovens for cooking lessons for children.
Right next to the House, part of the German Ministry for Digitization moved in this summer. According to the Berlin newspaper Tagesspiegel, this includes the department dealing with digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence. The ministry sees no espionage risks in this.
Organization Already on Sanctions List
Since 1984, the Russian House has been housed in a colossal building of nearly 30,000 square meters in the heart of Berlin. A spokesperson says the House on Friedrichstrasse focuses exclusively on Russian language and culture, as agreed in an accord between Russia and Germany from the 1990s. As a counterpart, there is a branch of the German Goethe Institute in Russia.
The Russian House is managed by the agency Rossotrudnichestvo, which falls under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2022, the EU placed the organization on the European sanctions list due to spreading pro-Russian propaganda and co-organizing pro-Russian demonstrations.
Therefore, accounts have been frozen. Only basic costs may be covered; the House may not generate income. Events are usually free, but money is earned with language lessons.
Despite the EU sanctions, the House remained open due to mutual agreements between Germany and Russia. Since 1993, there has been a cultural treaty that also protects the Goethe Institute in Russia. In 2013, a deal on housing was also made, allowing the House to own the building for the rest of the century. The German state pays the property tax of 70,000 euros per year.
False Romance
The Russian House has become a symbol in Germany of German naivety towards Russia. Calls to act against the Russia center in the city center were ignored by the government. After numerous hybrid attacks, including the explosive drone at Leipzig airport, the limit has now been reached: the House must close.
According to CDU member Kiesewetter, Germany had not dared to act earlier out of fear of escalation with Russia. "The strategy was always: if Germany is lenient, it will be rewarded and talks with Russia are possible. Don't hurt us, because we won't hurt you either." Moscow, however, interprets this as weakness, Kiesewetter says.
There is also a false 'Russia romance' in Germany, where Russia is appreciated as a culturally rich nation, in contrast to decadent America. "That voice is heard especially with the AfD, but also with parts of (government parties, ed.) CDU and SPD," says Kiesewetter.
Visitors to the House mainly regret that culture is being affected. "I am very sad, I liked reading Russian literature here," says a Russian-German woman. The German Michael Kanter does not want Russian art to be banned. "When Nazi Germany besieged Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg, ed.), people kept listening to Bach and Mozart. And now we are closing a cultural house, ridiculous."
The Russian House does not want to respond to questions and the espionage accusations. The building will probably remain open for the coming months because there is a notice period for terminating the cultural treaty.