Russians about Goethe-Institut: 'Hostage to politics'

"I teach German and can't find a job in Russia," another teacher told DW.

"It's terrible. I'm a German teacher, and I feel professionally stranded and lost," a third wrote.

Despite the restrictions imposed since the beginning of in 2022, demand for the institute's services remained high. According to the Goethe-Institut, around 10,000 people studied German through its programs and partnerships in 2025. Before 2023, that number used to stand at around 16,000 people. The institute administered roughly 22,000 exams, and its libraries were visited by 6,700 people in 2025.

'Culture has become a hostage to political decisions'

Many readers perceive what is happening as another stage in the destruction of ties between Russia and Germany.

"We would like cultural relations between the Russian Federation and Germany not to be destroyed," one DW user responded. "It is sad to realize that culture has become a hostage to political decisions. The closure of the Goethe-Institut will affect people who have no way of influencing politicians. "

Some DW readers from Russia specifically draw attention to the responsibility of politicians. One reader called the decision to close the institutes another step toward isolating the country and wondered why its consequences affect ordinary citizens rather than the Russian politicians who make such decisions.

"Why can the people making decisions to isolate Russia from Europe simultaneously provide their own children and close relatives with a European education and a European way of life? " a DW user asked, proposing a ban on the education of the children and close relatives of members of Russia's top leadership at universities in Germany and other EU countries.

Part of the audience considers Moscow's decision expected.

"The closure of the branches looks like a logical response to the closure of the Russian House in Germany. Could it have been otherwise? It is a pity that cultural and humanitarian ties between the countries are becoming hostages to politics," one reader wrote.

Some Russians hold Germany responsible for deteriorating relationship

Some Russians however believe that closing the Goethe-Institut branches in Russia was the right step and blame Germany for the recent escalation of the conflict with Russia.

"German authorities have buried cultural cooperation with Russia by shutting down the Russian House. The responsibility lies entirely with the German side, " said one of the survey participants.

A bilateral intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Germany from 2011 regulates the work of the Russian House in Berlin and the Goethe-Institut's branches in Russia. It obliges both countries, on the basis of reciprocity, to ensure conditions necessary for the operation of their cultural centers. However, it does not in any way provide for the automatic closure of one country's cultural centers in response to the other country doing so.

President of the Goethe-Institut Gesche Joost called the closure of its branches in Russia "the end of an era in German-Russian cultural relations. "

According to its website, the Goethe-Institut has 154 branches in 100 countries. This number includes the three branches in Russia that are now being closed.