Russia Says It Is Closing Germany’s Consulate in St. Petersburg

Russia has ordered Germany’s consulate in St. Petersburg to close by September 18, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday. Moscow presented the decision as a direct response to Germany’s closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn and Russia’s cultural center in Berlin, measures Russia had called “unfriendly.”

The ministry blamed Germany for what it described as another escalation in bilateral relations. “It was the German authorities who, once again, provoked a new round of escalation in bilateral relations,” it said, adding that Berlin “bears full and complete responsibility” for the consequences.

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It was the German authorities who, once again, provoked a new round of escalation in bilateral relations.

Russia had also ordered the closure of all Goethe-Institut branches in the country. Staff at the German organization, which promotes German language and culture and receives substantial financing from the German government, must leave Russia by September 13.

Germany announced its measures after saying Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport. The European Union said the incident showed signs of “state sponsored terrorism.” Leipzig is a major international freight hub and is also used to support Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected Germany’s allegations, calling them “the beginning of a real war.”

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the beginning of a real war