Russia Halts German Consulate Operations in St. Petersburg

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Russia‘s Foreign Ministry announced on Monday the cessation of activities for Germany’s consulate in the city of St. Petersburg. The operating license for the German consulate general in St. Petersburg has been revoked, and the center must conclude its operations by September 18.

In a statement regarding this matter, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that German cultural centers, specifically the Goethe-Institut, must halt their activities within Russia, and their personnel are required to leave the country by September 13.

The Russian Foreign Ministry further added that German authorities have initiated a new phase of tensions in bilateral relations, and Germany bears full responsibility for the consequences. All staff members of the German consulate general in St. Petersburg are mandated to depart Russian territory by September 18.

Moscow subsequently indicated that notes concerning the closure of the consulate general in St. Petersburg and the “Goethe” cultural centers were presented to the head of the German diplomatic mission in Moscow. These Russian measures are being implemented in retaliation for the closure of the consulate general in Bonn and the “Russian House of Science and Culture” in Berlin.