Russia to shut Germany's consulate general in St. Petersburg
Russia has announced the closure of Germany's consulate general in St. Petersburg in response to Berlin's decision to shut the Russian consulate in Bonn. Goethe-Institut branches in Russia are also being closed.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has withdrawn its consent for Germany's consulate general to operate in St. Petersburg, ordering the institution to cease operations by September 18. The news was reported by Radio Svoboda, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry.
In addition, staff of the German Goethe-Institut cultural centers in Russia must leave the country by September 13, and the centers themselves must halt their activities. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had previously announced that Goethe-Institut branches in Russia would be closed.
The Russian Foreign Ministry described the decision as a response to unfriendly actions by the German side. Earlier, German authorities, accusing Russia of attempting a sabotage operation using drones at Leipzig airport, decided to close the Russian consulate general in Bonn as well as the so-called Russian House (Russian House of Science and Culture) in Berlin.
The Russian Foreign Ministry's statement claimed that it was the German authorities who once again provoked a new round of escalation in bilateral relations.
Incident at Leipzig airport
In early August, a drone laden with explosives was intercepted at Leipzig airport as it attempted to attack a Ukrainian cargo aircraft, an An-124. Police used a robot to disarm the device. Several weeks later it emerged that another drone bearing traces of explosives had been found near the airport.
On September 1, Germany's Interior and Foreign Ministries placed responsibility for the attempted sabotage on Russia. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the drone's design, its components, the explosives and detonation systems fully matched samples that Russia uses in its war against Ukraine and in other hybrid operations.
