On September 4, Die Tageszeitung (TAZ) published an issue featuring a cover with an obscene phrase in Russian. The cover displayed large letters in Russian that constituted an appeal to Goethe with an explicit connotation.
Simultaneously, the German edition contained a grammatical error within this obscene phrase, which appeared as a misstatement of the intended expression.
The Russian phrase on TAZ’s cover drew directly from a similar title used in a 2013 German comedy film.
On September 4, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the closure of all Goethe Institute offices within Russia. This decision followed Germany’s earlier 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 over Russia’s closure of the Goethe Institute on September 3. He stated that the institute served a vital role as an interstate cultural bridge and emphasized that German authorities remained committed to continuing its development.
A section titled “Culture shock: what was the Russian House in Berlin like for our compatriots” featured accounts from an ex-employee of the RNC regarding the history, significance, and implications of the closures for Russia-Germany relations.
