According to the Associated Press, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the German consulate must cease operations and its staff must leave the country by September 18.
Moscow also reaffirmed its earlier decision to shut the German Goethe-Institut cultural centres in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Employees of the institutions have been ordered to leave Russia by Sunday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the measures were taken in retaliation for Germany’s “unfriendly” decision last Wednesday to close Russia’s consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin.
Germany has accused Russia of being behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4, after an explosives-laden drone was discovered near a Ukrainian aircraft. Leipzig/Halle is a major international freight hub that is also used to support Ukraine. The drone was subsequently defused.
Moscow has denied any role in the incident, calling it a provocation.
“It was the German authorities who once again provoked a new round of escalation in bilateral relations,” the Associated Press quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying. “All responsibility for the consequences lies entirely with the German government.”
The latest measures come amid broader tensions between Russia and Western countries over the war in Ukraine.
Western officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of carrying out sabotage and disruption campaigns across Europe aimed at weakening support for Ukraine and destabilising European countries. The closure of Germany’s St. Petersburg consulate marks the latest escalation in the diplomatic dispute between Moscow and Berlin.
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