Latest news with #Rossotrudnichestvo
DW
25-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Why does Germany pay taxes for Russian propaganda? – DW – 06/25/2025
The "Russian House" still stands in the heart of Berlin. Critics say it is used to spread propaganda for Putin's Russia. Meanwhile, Germany pays property taxes for the land. The Russian House is centrally located on Friedrichstrasse in the heart of the German capital. As a throwback to a bygone era of friendly German-Russian relations, it is the subject of fierce disagreements and has long been a bone of contention in Berlin. The massive seven-story building covering an area of almost 30,000 square meters was opened in 1984. At that time, back in the days of the East German state, its role was to celebrate friendship with the Soviet Union through concerts, film screenings, and book readings. It even had its own small bookstore. Today's administrators still maintain that it is a place to celebrate the friendship between the two countries: "The Russian House is Russia's cultural embassy in the heart of Berlin," according to the Russian Embassy's website. But quite a few critics say that the events that take place there, which the Russian House estimates attract 200,000 visitors a year, mainly serve as propaganda for Vladimir Putin's Russia. Berlin media outlets have repeatedly reported on events at the in-house cinema where, for example, a Holocaust film was shown in which Ukrainian citizens were portrayed as Nazis. And if Robin Wagener, a member of the Bundestag for the Green Party, is to be believed, the Russian House even sells soap for children in the shape of a tank. Wagener told DW: "It is time we recognized that this is not mutual cultural exchange, but Russian war propaganda in Germany." That's why Wagener thinks it's time to focus on one particularly bizarre detail: the property on Friedrichstrasse belongs to Germany, and yet the building is run by the Russian federal agency "Rossotrudnichestvo." In English, that's the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation. Rossotrudnichestvo, whose primary purpose is to promote the Russian language abroad, currently has 73 similar institutions in 62 countries worldwide, including the one in Berlin. Since 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the agency has been on the EU sanctions list. At the time, the EU justified this by stating that the agency's goal was to consolidate "a wider public perception of the occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian." The director and deputy director, the statement added, had clearly expressed their support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. However, as the de facto owner of the property, the German federal government must now pay a whopping €70,000 ($81,193) in property taxes. This stems from a long-standing agreement between Germany and Russia, which recognized each other's cultural work. Wagener wants to ensure that this sum is cut from the upcoming budget negotiations. Wagener first had the idea a year ago, but in the chaotic turmoil of the coalition government between the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party, and the neoliberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), no budget was agreed upon, which is only now being finalized. Wagener's reasoning for the possible cut: The house has long lost sight of its original purpose, namely to promote mutual cultural exchange: "Russia keeps escalating. And that's making the situation worse. The basis for this mutual cultural agreement was to promote the exchange of culture and science." Wagener approached the new federal government on this matter. The response was somewhat awkward: "With regard to the house located on the property, which is owned by the Russian Federation, the Federal Republic of Germany pays the property tax for the Russian Federation on the basis of its legal obligation under the bilateral German-Russian agreement on property issues relating to cultural institutes of 2013." It made reference, in other words, to an agreement that was reached before the Russian occupation of Crimea. Whether this will lead to the freezing of funds is anything but certain. The German Foreign Office has repeatedly stated that the employees of the institute have diplomatic status in Germany. It is an open secret that the German government is shying away from open conflict over the Russian House because it fears that the Russian government could respond by closing the Goethe Institute in Moscow. Green politician Wagener nevertheless vows to continue campaigning for its closure: "I believe that this Russian cultural center has no future as a cultural mediator. If one wants to seriously engage with Russian culture, which I would very much welcome, then there are already civil society venues run by people who are themselves persecuted in Russia and live here in Germany because they can no longer freely express their culture in Russia." For the time being, however, the Russian House plans to continue hosting events at its located on one of the most famous streets in the German capital, right in the heart of you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
DW
25-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Berlin's 'Russian House' is financed by German taxpayers – DW – 06/25/2025
The "Russian House" still stands in the heart of Berlin. Critics say it is used to spread propaganda for Putin's Russia. Meanwhile, Germany pays property taxes for the land. The Russian House is centrally located on Friedrichstrasse in the heart of the German capital. As a throwback to a bygone era of friendly German-Russian relations, it is the subject of fierce disagreements and has long been a bone of contention in Berlin. The massive seven-story building covering an area of almost 30,000 square meters was opened in 1984. At that time, back in the days of the East German state, its role was to celebrate friendship with the Soviet Union through concerts, film screenings, and book readings. It even had its own small bookstore. Today's administrators still maintain that it is a place to celebrate the friendship between the two countries: "The Russian House is Russia's cultural embassy in the heart of Berlin," according to the Russian Embassy's website. But quite a few critics say that the events that take place there, which the Russian House estimates attract 200,000 visitors a year, mainly serve as propaganda for Vladimir Putin's Russia. Berlin media outlets have repeatedly reported on events at the in-house cinema where, for example, a Holocaust film was shown in which Ukrainian citizens were portrayed as Nazis. And if Robin Wagener, a member of the Bundestag for the Green Party, is to be believed, the Russian House even sells soap for children in the shape of a tank. Wagener told DW: "It is time we recognized that this is not mutual cultural exchange, but Russian war propaganda in Germany." That's why Wagener thinks it's time to focus on one particularly bizarre detail: the property on Friedrichstrasse belongs to Germany, and yet the building is run by the Russian federal agency "Rossotrudnichestvo." In English, that's the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation. Rossotrudnichestvo, whose primary purpose is to promote the Russian language abroad, currently has 73 similar institutions in 62 countries worldwide, including the one in Berlin. Since 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the agency has been on the EU sanctions list. At the time, the EU justified this by stating that the agency's goal was to consolidate "a wider public perception of the occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian." The director and deputy director, the statement added, had clearly expressed their support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. However, as the de facto owner of the property, the German federal government must now pay a whopping €70,000 ($81,193) in property taxes. This stems from a long-standing agreement between Germany and Russia, which recognized each other's cultural work. Wagener wants to ensure that this sum is cut from the upcoming budget negotiations. Wagener first had the idea a year ago, but in the chaotic turmoil of the coalition government between the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Green Party, and the neoliberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), no budget was agreed upon, which is only now being finalized. Wagener's reasoning for the possible cut: The house has long lost sight of its original purpose, namely to promote mutual cultural exchange: "Russia keeps escalating. And that's making the situation worse. The basis for this mutual cultural agreement was to promote the exchange of culture and science." Wagener approached the new federal government on this matter. The response was somewhat awkward: "With regard to the house located on the property, which is owned by the Russian Federation, the Federal Republic of Germany pays the property tax for the Russian Federation on the basis of its legal obligation under the bilateral German-Russian agreement on property issues relating to cultural institutes of 2013." It made reference, in other words, to an agreement that was reached before the Russian occupation of Crimea. Whether this will lead to the freezing of funds is anything but certain. The German Foreign Office has repeatedly stated that the employees of the institute have diplomatic status in Germany. It is an open secret that the German government is shying away from open conflict over the Russian House because it fears that the Russian government could respond by closing the Goethe Institute in Moscow. Green politician Wagener nevertheless vows to continue campaigning for its closure: "I believe that this Russian cultural center has no future as a cultural mediator. If one wants to seriously engage with Russian culture, which I would very much welcome, then there are already civil society venues run by people who are themselves persecuted in Russia and live here in Germany because they can no longer freely express their culture in Russia." For the time being, however, the Russian House plans to continue hosting events at its located on one of the most famous streets in the German capital, right in the heart of you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
Russia Today
03-06-2025
- General
- Russia Today
Germany should expel all Russian diplomats
A senior German lawmaker has called on Berlin to effectively cut diplomatic ties with Moscow to combat the 'hybrid' threats he claims come from Russia. 'We should expel any remaining… diplomats,' Roderich Kiesewetter, known for his hardline anti-Russian stance, told Handelsblatt on Tuesday. He argued that doing so would help reduce Moscow's influence in Germany. According to Kiesewetter, Germany is currently 'inadequately protected against cyberattacks,' which he claims 'primarily' originate from Russia. He specifically accused Moscow of attempting to 'change public opinion in Germany' through such actions. He also accused China, North Korea, and Iran of launching 'hacking attacks.' The list of countermeasures suggested by the MP includes establishing a special government agency to refute disinformation or combat it 'through hybrid activities,' banning Russian tourists and journalists from entering Germany, shutting down 'propaganda portals,' and deleting any social media accounts deemed suspicious by the authorities. The lawmaker also called for the closure of the Russian House – a center in Berlin run by the Russian government agency Rossotrudnichestvo that holds cultural events and offers language courses – labeling it a network of Russian 'influence.' Moscow has warned that the expulsion of diplomats would be met with a tit-for-tat response. 'Berlin must have been missing the German diplomats,' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Rossotrudnichestvo blasted Kiesewetter's words as 'absurd.' They 'have nothing to do with reality,' the agency's spokesman said, adding that the MP 'knows nothing about the activities of the Russian House in Berlin and has never been there.' The head of the Russian House also told TASS that such rhetoric 'does not foster international dialogue' and only 'strengthens the atmosphere of distrust, incites hatred and animosity.' Last year, Kiesewetter caused a stir in Germany by stating that Berlin should 'take the war to Russia' and 'do everything possible to enable Ukraine to destroy… ministries, command posts' on Russian territory. He is also an active supporter of supplying Kiev with Taurus missiles, which have a range of 500km and could reach Moscow. The interview comes as Berlin has taken an even more hardline position on Russia under new Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Since taking office, Merz has lifted range restrictions on Ukrainian strikes with German-supplied missiles and hinted at the possibility of sending Taurus missiles to Kiev. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said in response that Berlin's 'direct involvement in the war is now obvious.'
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
EU sanctions three pro-Kremlin activists identified by Reuters
BERLIN, May 20 (Reuters) - The European Union on Tuesday announced sanctions against three pro-Russia activists whose activities promoting the Kremlin's agenda inside Germany were first revealed in a Reuters investigation in 2023. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Elena Kolbasnikova and her husband Max Schlund have been organising pro-Kremlin rallies in Germany to urge Berlin to abandon its military support for Kyiv. In the sanctions listing, the EU said both Kolbasnikova and Schlund, who also goes by the name of Rostislav Teslyuk, had taken part in "destabilising activities". It said Kolbasnikova had promoted "violent acts" committed by her husband including organising car rallies to "intimidate Ukrainian minors" who were seeking refuge in Germany. The listing said the couple had close ties with, and were financially supported by, Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian government cultural promotion agency. The sanctions mean any assets the three targeted activists - including a Russian associate of Kolbasnikova and Schlund - have inside the EU will be frozen, and they will be barred from entering any of the bloc's member countries. On a public Telegram group run by both Kolbasnikova and Schlund, the pair denounced the sanctions. "PEOPLE WHO FIGHT FOR PEACE ARE BEING SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS," they wrote. "IDIOCY." When reached by phone for comment on Tuesday, Schlund told the Reuters reporter to "fuck off" before hanging up. Reuters first reported on the couple in 2023, detailing how they were at the centre of an effort in Germany to turn public opinion against the German government's continued support for Ukraine. In its report, Reuters revealed how the couple had received plane tickets from a Russian cultural promotion body that is part of Rossotrudnitschestwo to travel to a forum for civil society activists in Moscow that was co-organised by the Russian government. Kolbasnikova and Schlund left Germany last year after they said authorities there had barred them from re-entering the country. The sanctions listing on Tuesday said a criminal investigation against the pair over their alleged support for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's Donbas region was ongoing. Reuters in 2023 also reported that the couple had donated funds to a Russian army division fighting in Ukraine, and that it had used the money to purchase walkie-talkie radios, headphones and telephones. In the same listing, Europe also imposed sanctions on Andrei Kharkovsky, a Russian citizen residing in Germany who is a member of a Cossack organisation endorsed by the Kremlin. In the 2023 report, Reuters wrote that Kharkovsky provided security for Kolbasnikova and Schlund at pro-Moscow rallies they held in Germany. The listing said the group Kharkovsky was part of, the Union of Cossack Warriors of Russia and Abroad, was linked to the Kremlin and accused it of supporting pro-Russian separatists. Reuters was not immediately able to reach Kharkovsky for comment.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kyrgyzstan detains Russian government agency worker accused of recruiting fighters for Ukraine war
By Aigerim Turgunbaeva BISHKEK (Reuters) - Kyrgyz security services have detained four people, including an employee of a Russian government agency, on suspicion of recruiting Kyrgyz citizens to fight in the Russian army, officials said on Wednesday. Kyrgyzstan's domestic security agency told Reuters the detainees included an employee of Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian agency for cultural exchange, in Kyrgyzstan's second city of Osh, as well as an employee of Osh city hall's press service. In a statement on Telegram, Rossotrudnichestvo's Russian House cultural centre in Osh said that its activities were all legal. It said it was "anxious" for the fate of the detained employee, Natalia Serekina, who it said was a citizen of Kyrgyzstan. The suspects are being held under charges related to recruiting and supporting mercenaries for participation in armed conflicts abroad. A court in the country's capital, Bishkek, charged the four suspects with mercenary activity, and placed them in pre-trial detention until June 17. Hundreds of Central Asian nationals, principally from Kyrgzystan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, are believed to have enlisted in the Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. Moscow offers high salaries and Russian citizenship to foreigners who sign up, an offer which has drawn takers from as far afield as Cuba, Nepal and India. Several of these countries have asked Moscow to stop recruiting their citizens, and send serving soldiers home. Kyrgyzstan has maintained its traditional alignment with Russia throughout the more than three-year war in Ukraine, even as Kyrgyz authorities have prosecuted citizens for joining the Russian army. The mountainous and mostly Muslim country of 7 million is heavily economically dependent on Russia, where many of its nationals migrate for work, and hosts several Russian military bases.
