AI-generated summary
Das Russische Haus der Wissenschaft und Kultur in Berlin war ein Ort für kulturellen Austausch zwischen Deutschland und Russland. Es wurde nach einem mutmaßlichen russischen Drohnenanschlag auf den Flughafen Halle/Leipzig von der Bundesregierung geschlossen.
Alexander Estis, 1986 in Moskau geboren, lebt als Schriftsteller in der Schweiz. 2025 erschien sein Buch »Schergenstaat Russland: Ideologie, Propaganda, Repression und Widerstand« bei NZZ Libro.
Von überall her höre ich die sogenannten Freunde der russischen Kultur stöhnen. Denn das Russische Haus, genauer: Das Russische Haus der Wissenschaft und Kultur in Berlin wurde geschlossen. Damit reagierte die Bundesregierung auf den versuchten russischen Drohnenanschlag am Flughafen Halle/Leipzig.
»Wir brechen alle Brücken ab für kulturellen Austausch. Wir brechen alle Brücken ab für Dialog«, ergeht sich Sahra Wagenknecht in bestürztem Echauffement, das ihre Parteikollegin Sevim Dağdelen gleich – wie sollte es anders sein – zu einem Nazivergleich steigert: »Mit ihrem Furor gegen den Kulturaustausch erinnert diese Bundesregierung an finsterste deutsche Zeiten.« Die Schließung des »Kulturzentrums« sei das »völlig falsche Signal«, erklärt auch die AfD-Bundestagsabgeordnete Christina Baum, und Linkenpolitikerin Kerstin Kaiser stimmt in das Lamento mit ein: »Die Zeitenwende spült einen Ort der Kultur, der Bildung und Begegnung hinweg. Der Verlust markiert eine Niederlage für demokratisches Denken, für die Offenheit und Toleranz Berlins.«
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Die Debatte über die Schließung des Russischen Hauses wird in den kommenden Wochen im Bundestag fortgesetzt.
Likely · Within weeks
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has resigned from office to run as the lead candidate of his Progressive Party in the early parliamentary elections on October 25 and become prime minister. As his final official act, he pardoned 49 people, including 23 in connection with student protests. Vucic is under pressure over the train accident in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, in which 16 people died. The President of Parliament, Ana Brnabic, takes over the office of head of state on an interim basis.
The Green Party candidate Kim Fürwentsches won the district election in the Osterholz district with 58.0 percent of the vote, taking over the office from the SPD candidate Michael Harjes, who received 42.0 percent. Incumbent Bernd Lütjen did not run again. Fürwentsches was previously known as mayor of Lilienthal, where she warned of 'flood dementia' after the winter floods of 2023/24.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has resigned to run as head of government in early parliamentary elections on October 25. He hands over his official duties to the President of Parliament. The new elections were called due to protests following the train platform accident in Novi Sad that left 16 dead.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has announced his resignation to run as the leading candidate of his right-wing nationalist Progressive Party in the snap parliamentary election on October 25 and become prime minister. His interim successor is the President of the National Assembly, Ana Brnabić.

Belit Onay from the Greens won the mayoral election in Hanover with 61.5 percent of the votes in the runoff against Axel von der Ohe (SPD). Regional President Eva Bender (SPD) also won with 69.4 percent. In Göttingen, Onyeka Oshionwu (Greens) is currently leading with 62.7 percent. AfD candidates were unable to achieve runoff election victories in Salzgitter, Munster and Bockenem.
Belit Onay from the Greens was confirmed as mayor for another eight years in the runoff election in Hanover with 61.5 percent of the vote. His challenger Axel von der Ohe from the SPD received 38.5 percent. Onay has been in office since 2019 and was the first Green to head the Lower Saxony state capital.