Germany's consulate general in St. Petersburg finally closes
Germany's consulate general in St. Petersburg ceased operations on September 18, with its duties taken over by the German embassy in Moscow, amid diplomatic tension following a drone incident at Leipzig airport.
As of September 18, Germany's consulate general in St. Petersburg has stopped operating, according to an announcement on the mission's website. Its responsibilities are now being handled by the German embassy in Moscow.
According to DW's Russian-language service, on September 17 the flag, coat of arms and other German symbols were removed from the building that housed the consulate. The consulate had operated in St. Petersburg since 1972.
Alongside the diplomatic mission, a German school attached to the consulate general also closed in the city. The last lessons were held on September 11. The school, which had operated since 2009, included a kindergarten and primary, middle and high school levels, with roughly 150 children enrolled in total.
Background of the dispute
Russian authorities decided to close the German diplomatic mission in St. Petersburg after Germany announced it would close Russia's consulate general in Bonn. That German move came in response to an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport, which Russia is accused of being behind.
Russia's Foreign Ministry, for its part, ordered the closure of Germany's consulate general in St. Petersburg by September 18 and also invited its staff to leave the country.
