EU Countries Should Follow Germany's Lead and Close Russian Houses, MEP Says
A member of the European Parliament said Russian 'cultural' centers across the EU serve as cover for intelligence activities.
European Union member states should follow Germany's example and close so-called Russian houses operating within their borders, a member of the European Parliament said, arguing that the cultural centers function as fronts for intelligence gathering, according to Ukrinform.
The MEP said Russian "cultural" centers in EU countries serve as cover for intelligence activities and should be shut down in the same manner Germany has moved against similar institutions.
Russian houses, typically operated under the auspices of Russian state cultural or diplomatic organizations, have faced increasing scrutiny across Europe since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with several European governments raising concerns about their activities beyond cultural programming.
Germany's actions against Russian cultural institutions have been cited by other European officials as a model for addressing concerns about Russian influence operations operating under the guise of cultural exchange.
The call adds to a broader pattern of EU member states reassessing their relationships with Russian state-linked institutions as the bloc continues to respond to Moscow's war in Ukraine and associated concerns about espionage and influence campaigns on European soil.
Sources
- EU countries should follow Germany’s lead and close Russian houses, MEP says — Ukrinform (Ukraine)
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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