Russia to close branches of Germany's Goethe Institute

Russia will close multiple branches of Germany's Goethe Institute in response to Germany ordering the closure of a Russian cultural centre in Berlin, Moscow said Thursday.

The Goethe Institute, funded by Germany's foreign office, is a nonprofit organisation that promotes the study of the German language. The announcement comes after Germany imposed sanctions on Moscow this week, including the closure of a cultural centre in Berlin.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the group's branches in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Yekaterinburg would be closed, although the Goethe Institute does not list a branch in Yekaterinburg on its website. Germany said it regretted Russia's decision. Tensions between the two countries have soared since Berlin accused Moscow of being behind a drone incident at Leipzig airport last month.