Moldova's new government has decided to close the Russian Scientific and Cultural Center (“Russian House”) operating in Chisinau.
Modern.az reports that this decision was approved at the first meeting of the new Cabinet of Ministers held under the leadership of Prime Minister Alexandr Munteanu.
According to the Moldovan press, Culture Minister Cristian Jardyan, who presented the draft decision, stated that the “Russian House” was opened on the basis of the Moldova-Russia agreement signed in Moscow on October 30, 1998. That agreement provided for the establishment of cultural centers in both countries, the development of cultural, humanitarian, and scientific ties, and came into force on July 4, 2001.
According to the Minister, after February 24, 2022, the “Russian House” turned into a “hybrid warfare tool” used by Russia against Moldova. “In the current geopolitical situation, the application of this agreement is no longer possible and can be used by Russia to spread disinformation,” Jardyan stated.
He noted that Moldova does not have an analogous cultural center on Russian territory. “Although the agreement does not directly specify a termination mechanism, its term is automatically extended every five years. If one of the parties notifies the other at least six months in advance, the document's validity can be suspended. The current term expires on July 4, 2026, and we propose not to extend it,” the minister added.
The decision was unanimously adopted by the government members.
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated in his comments on the matter that Moscow “regrets” the closure of the “Russian House” and believes that Moldova's decision “disregards the interests of the country's citizens.”
