Berlin public prosecutors said on Monday they had launched a preliminary investigation into Russky Dom, a cultural promotion organisation in Berlin that is part of a Russian government agency subject to European Union sanctions.
Early this month, a Reuters investigation revealed that, despite the sanctions, Russky Dom - which means "Russian House" - had purchased airline tickets for two pro-Russia activists living in Germany to travel to a Kremlin-backed conference in Moscow.
"I can confirm that a complaint was filed in relation to the 'Russian House' and that an investigation was initiated," Karen Sommer, a spokeswoman for the Berlin prosecutors' office said in an emailed response to Reuters queries.
