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🇬🇷 Greece /Elections & Politics

Germany and Russia enter diplomatic war as consulates, cultural centre and Goethe Institute branches close

From Kathimerini · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Official statement Ongoing story
  • Russia ordered the German general consulate in St Petersburg to close by September 18, in retaliation for German measures against Russian diplomatic and cultural facilities.
  • Moscow also confirmed that Goethe Institute branches in Russia must stop operating and that their staff must leave by September 13.
  • The dispute follows Germany’s accusation that Russia attempted a drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport, which Moscow rejected as an absurd fabrication.

Russia has ordered the closure of Germany’s general consulate in St Petersburg, escalating a diplomatic dispute with Berlin. Moscow said the move retaliated against Germany’s decision to close the Russian consulate in Bonn and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the German consulate must end its operations no later than September 18. It also confirmed that Goethe Institute branches in Russia must stop their activities, while their staff must leave the country by September 13.

Germany took its measures after accusing Moscow of attempting a drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport. Russia rejected that accusation, calling it an absurd fabrication.

“The German authorities once again triggered a new wave of escalation in bilateral relations,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “The German government bears full and absolute responsibility for the consequences.”

The German authorities once again triggered a new wave of escalation in bilateral relations. The German government bears full and absolute responsibility for the consequences.

· Russian Foreign MinistryThe ministry blamed Germany for the latest escalation after Moscow announced retaliatory closures.
About this summary

Originally published by Kathimerini in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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