The Moldovan government has decided to close the Russian Science and Culture Center in Chișinău, known as the “Russian House.” Authorities called the institution a tool of the Kremlin’s hybrid influence. A similar move was made by Azerbaijan in the spring, citing the unacceptable interference in internal affairs.
Although “Rossotrudnichestvo” offices officially present themselves as platforms for cultural exchange, their activities are consistently associated with promoting Kremlin narratives. Under the guise of promoting the Russian language and participating in humanitarian programs, Moscow uses these centers to legitimize its propaganda. In Berlin, the “Russian House” has been labeled the “palace of propaganda” and a “hub of Putin’s propaganda” by the German outlets Augsburger Allgemeine and Tagesspiegel.
In 2023, Danish authorities exposed Russian intelligence officers operating through the local “Russian House” to conduct industrial espionage. This is not an isolated case—spy activity under the cover of cultural centers has become part of the Kremlin’s strategy.
Russia actively exploits these platforms to justify the war against Ukraine. In “Russian Houses” across the Global South—from Argentina to Cambodia—a film promoting “the revival of sports” in occupied territories was shown, advancing narratives that legitimize aggression.
After the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU imposed sanctions against Rossotrudnichestvo. As a result, “Russian Houses” have ceased operations in Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Romania. The closure in Moldova is another signal that the world is increasingly unwilling to tolerate cultural facades hiding espionage.
