Russia to close branches of Germany's Goethe-Institut

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the move in statements carried by Russian newswires. It comes after Germany said it would close the Russian House in Berlin.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said branches of Germany's Goethe-Institut would be closed on Russian territory. 

Lavrov, in remarks carried by Russian news agencies TASS and Interfax, said Goethe-Institut locations would be closed in the Russian cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.  

This is a breaking news story and will be updated...