Germany decides to close four Russian consulates on its soil

A consequence of the restrictions imposed by Moscow on the German representation in Russia. Germany has decided to close four of the five Russian consulates on its soil, the German Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday May 31.

“In order to ensure a balance of mutual presences both in terms of personnel and structures, we have decided to withdraw the authorization to operate four of the five Russian consulates general operated in Germany, this was communicated today to the Ministry Russian Foreign Affairs”, said a spokesman for the ministry. Only the fifth consulate and the Russian embassy in Berlin will thus be able to continue to operate.

Moscow denounced a “rash provocation” and promised there would be a “answer”. The Russian Foreign Ministry blasted “a new unfriendly measure aimed at further destroying Russian-German relations”. He accused Berlin of being responsible for “the constant escalation” in “massively expelling” Russian diplomats “under silly pretexts”.

The German presence in Russia strongly affected

These announcements follow the recent Russian decision to drastically reduce, as of June, the number of people that Germany can send or employ in Russia in its embassy or in active institutions. Hundreds of people are affected by this measure: embassy and consular officials, but above all employees of the Goethe cultural institute, of the German school, or even teachers working in Russian schools.

“The Russian government has thus taken a step towards escalation and this unjustified decision obliges the government (German) to make very significant cuts in all areas of its presence in Russia”justified the spokesman of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In November, Germany decided to close three of its own consulates in Russia – those in Kaliningrad, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk.