Moldova Moves to Shut Down Russian Cultural Center

The Moldovan government has approved terminating its cultural cooperation agreement with Russia, under which the Russian Center for Science and Culture — also known as the Russian House (Russki Dom) — operated in Chișinău, Orda.kz reports, citing Radio Moldova.

The decision will next be put to a vote in parliament.

Minister of Culture Cristian Jardan said the center had long served political rather than cultural purposes:

The Russian Cultural Center was not truly cultural — it was an institution that, under the guise of culture, carried out activities undermining Moldova’s sovereignty,
 Jardan stated.

Russia’s federal agency Rossotrudnichestvo, which oversees the center, said it had not yet received any official notification from Moldovan authorities and that the Russian House continues to operate “as usual," according to Novaya Gazeta.

In February, Azerbaijan also announced the closure of the Russian House in Baku.

The pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) of Moldovan President Maia Sandu won the parliamentary elections held on September 28. The elections were viewed as a choice between closer integration with the European Union or a return to Russia’s sphere of influence.