A letter urging EU leaders to ban Russian Houses was signed by 71 of the European Parliament’s 720 members, the document shows.
Lithuanian MEP Rasa Juknevičienė initiated the appeal. The letter describes Russian Houses as alleged instruments of Moscow’s influence in the European Union.
The signatories ask the European Commission, the European External Action Service and EU governments to develop a common approach to the organisations. The Commission has previously said the matter falls within the remit of member states.
On September 1, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany would close Russia’s general consulate in Bonn on September 18 and terminate the agreement governing the Russian House in Berlin. The centre has operated since 1984 and is the largest Russian cultural centre in Germany.