Germany to close Berlin Russian House by end of 2026

September 11, 2026 at 09:05 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Germany announced on September 1 that it will close the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin by the end of 2026. The decision follows a report that Ksenia Fedorova, former head of the banned RT France, applied to lead the institution. Berlin cited the termination of the bilateral cultural agreement and the August sabotage attempt on a Ukrainian plane in Leipzig.

Key Facts

Germany will close the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin by the end of 2026.
Ksenia Fedorova, 45, former head of RT France, applied for the director position at the Russian House, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine.
France revoked Fedorova's residence status and froze her accounts in July 2026, accusing her of propaganda.
The previous director, Pavel Izvolsky, left Germany unexpectedly in spring 2026.
Germany terminated the cultural agreement with Russia, which had previously prevented the closure.

Closure Decision

On September 1, German authorities announced the closure of the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin by the end of 2026. The institution operated under the Russian state agency Rossotrudnichestvo. Germany terminated the bilateral cultural agreement that had previously prevented the closure. The move was part of Berlin's response to an attempted sabotage against a Ukrainian plane at Leipzig airport in early August, which Germany blamed on Moscow. Russia rejected the accusation and demanded evidence.

Fedorova's Application

Ksenia Fedorova, 45, applied for the director position at the Russian House, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine. She previously headed RT France, which was banned after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The previous director, Pavel Izvolsky, left Germany unexpectedly in spring 2026. French intelligence services have reported that the Russian House in Berlin is used for espionage.

Fedorova's Expulsion from France

In July 2026, French authorities revoked Fedorova's residence status and froze her accounts, accusing her of propaganda. Fedorova denied the accusations and accused French authorities of censorship. After RT France closed, she worked for media owned by Vincent Bolloré, a 74-year-old Breton industrialist and media magnate. In early September, the channel CNews announced her return on air via video link, prompting French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to warn of legal consequences. A French court twice rejected appeals by her lawyer.