The Government of Belarus wanted to close the Goethe Institute and terminate the activities of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in the country. This was reported in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, RIA Novosti reports.
in the foreign policy department regards the decision of Minsk and stressed that this step would lead to further insulation of Belarus. “The victims of this decision will be Belarusian citizens who will be deprived of the possibilities of public and cultural activities,” concluded in the German Foreign Ministry.
Goethe Institute and the German Academic Exchange Service are large organizations to study the German language and the exchange of multicultural experience. Branches of organizations are open in most major cities in the world.
On June 24, the European Union introduced the fourth package of economic sanctions against Belarus. Under them were 166 physical and 15 legal entities. According to the measures taken, the EU limits the access of Belarus to its financial markets, introduces restrictions on the trade in petroleum products and potash fertilizers, as well as tobacco products. The transfer of goods and technologies of military and dual-use and insurance services for the republic’s authorities was also prohibited. The restrictions were connected to the United Kingdom, USA and Canada.
In response, Belarus temporarily emerged from the EU Eastern Partnership program and suspended the actions of the Bilateral Remissance Agreement.