Politicians from multiple parties are demanding the shutdown of the Russian House in Berlin, citing concerns over potential espionage activities linked to the facility.

Representatives from the CDU, Greens, and FDP have united in their calls for the closure of the Russian House located in Friedrichstraße, Berlin. CDU Bundestag member Roderich Kiesewetter expressed his belief that the cultural institution has become a hub for espionage, highlighting the presence of over a hundred residents whose identities remain unknown and the facility’s unusually high energy consumption.

Green party member Sara Nanni echoed these concerns, stating that her party had previously attempted to close the Russian House during the coalition government. She pointed to suspicious mobile and GPS signals indicating the presence of powerful transmission equipment, reinforcing her suspicions of espionage activities emanating from the center. Nanni criticized the federal government’s reluctance to act, labeling it as weakness in the face of Kremlin influence.

FDP member Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann also urged for the facility’s closure, claiming it serves as a base for coordinating cyberattacks and deploying spies. She called on the government to terminate the cultural agreement with Russia, which is set to expire at the end of the year. The German government defended the Russian House’s existence, citing its contractual ties to the Goethe-Institut in Moscow, while acknowledging that the managing organization is under EU sanctions.