Relations between Berlin and Moscow are deteriorating further. After the closure of Goethe Institutes, Russian authorities have also ordered the closure of the German Consulate General in St. Petersburg.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has ordered the closure of the German Consulate General in St. Petersburg. The ministry announced that consulate staff must leave Russia by September 18. It also reaffirmed the previously announced decision to close all Goethe Institutes in Russia. Their employees have until Sunday to leave Russia.
The ministry described these measures as a response to the “unfriendly” decision by the German government to close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the “Russian House” cultural center in Berlin. According to Moscow, German authorities have “caused a further escalation of bilateral relations.” The statement said that full responsibility for the consequences lies “entirely and completely” with the German federal government.
Criticism from Berlin
The German Foreign Ministry criticized Moscow’s decision. According to a ministry spokesperson, this is “a regrettable mistake that makes it even more difficult to return to constructive relations.”
The German government said its decision to close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn was a “firm but measured” response to hostile activities against Germany.
At the same time, Berlin’s Foreign Ministry stressed that Russia’s action against the German Consulate General in St. Petersburg affects “colleagues who for years, often under increasingly difficult conditions, have worked to preserve German-Russian relations.”
Tensions Have Risen Following the Drone Incident
The German government considers Russia responsible for a suspected drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4, when a drone carrying explosives was discovered near a Ukrainian aircraft. The airport is an important international cargo hub and is also used to support Ukraine. Moscow denies any involvement in the incident.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described Germany’s punitive measures as “a serious mistake” and said they were based on fabricated evidence. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described Germany’s accusations against Moscow as “the beginning of a real war.”
Lavrov said the German sanctions reminded him of the beginning of World War II. In statements quoted by the Vesti news portal, he said that the Germans appeared to want war again. Lavrov is known for his harsh rhetoric and frequently provocative statements. /DW
