![\"Russia](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788418615.webp\" "\\"Russia")
<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Photo by Kristina Solovyova \/ POOL \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Russia has announced plans to close German cultural centers across the country in response to accusations that it was behind an attempted attack on an airport. <\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the move on Thursday after Berlin blamed Moscow for an attempted attack at Leipzig\/Halle Airport last month. He announced the closure of both the Russian Consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in the German capital, The Independent<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Lavrov said that cultural centers belonging to Germany’s Goethe-Institut would be closed in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, adding that any other response would show a lack of “self-respect” on Russia’s part.<\/p>\n Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Lavrov said that Germany<\/a> “could not have failed to understand” that the closure of Russian House would “signify the end of their cultural presence in Russia.”<\/p>\n A drone laden with explosives was found near a Ukrainian plane at Leipzig\/Halle Airport on Aug. 4 and later defused. The airport is a major international freight hub used for providing support to Ukraine.<\/p>\n Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations.<\/p>\n Putin has dismissed the allegations, saying Berlin wants to distract from its own failings and dissatisfaction among voters. Any proof being offered “has been planted,” Putin said.<\/p>\n European Union ministers on Wednesday weighed how best to respond to the attempted drone attack but struggled to find new ways to meet the challenge without resorting to military means.<\/p>\n