GOETHE INSTITUTE TO CLOSE IN RUSSIA

MOSCOW, SEPTEMBER 3 /SRNA/ - The branches of the Goethe-Institut in Russia will be closed following Germany's decision to close the Russian House in Berlin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Lavrov said that Russia would close the Goethe-Institut branches in Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, RIA Novosti reported.

"They will be closed after our cultural centre was expelled from Germany; otherwise, we would not be respecting ourselves," Lavrov said at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

The German government officially accused Russia yesterday of being behind the drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August and announced countermeasures.

Berlin decided to close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn on September 18.

In addition, Germany announced that it would terminate the agreement governing the operation of the Russian House in Berlin and tighten entry controls for Russian citizens.

The Eastern Economic Forum is being held in Vladivostok from September 1 to 4.