German politicians demand shutdown of "Russian House" in Berlin

Political pressure is mounting in Berlin to shut down the "Russian House", a cultural centre operated by the Russian state.

Members of the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and opposition Greens have called for the centre’s closure, Caliber.Az reports via German media.

“This is a political tool of Russia, brazenly circumventing sanctions, and it must be closed immediately,” said CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter, describing the "Russian House" as an extension of the Kremlin and “a centre of disinformation.”

The status of the "Russian House" in Berlin and the Goethe-Institut in Moscow is governed by a 2011 German-Russian agreement. Despite the war in Ukraine, the accord remains in force, requiring Germany to pay €70,000 annually in property taxes for the complex on Friedrichstraße.

Green Party MP Robin Wagener said: “It is unacceptable for this propaganda organisation to continue receiving our money while being used by Russia to wage an information war against us.”

The "Russian House" is run by the state company Rossotrudnichestvo, which has been on the EU sanctions list since July 2022. The Berlin public prosecutor is investigating “unknown persons or tenants of the 'Russian House' for violating the Foreign Trade and Payments Act.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev