Germany closes Consulates in two more Russian cities after Kaliningrad one
Germany closes Consulates in two more Russian cities after Kaliningrad one (Getty Images)
Germany has decided to close two more of its Consulates General in Russia, namely in Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk, according to the German representation in Russia and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Consulates in Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg closed on Friday. Visitors are advised to contact the embassy in Moscow.
In addition to Germany's representations in Kaliningrad, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, and Moscow, three honorary consuls worked in Russia, providing consular support to German citizens in Vladivostok, Kazan, and Saratov.
In May 2023, Germany decided to close three diplomatic missions after Moscow narrowed the number of German staff in Russia to 350.
Reaction of Russia
The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, claims that at the end of May, the German authorities demanded to close a Russian Consulates General in Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Frankfurt by January 1, 2024.
She also confirms that German consulates in Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, and Novosibirsk closed in Russia.
Zakharova accused Germany of "a deliberate policy of rupturing relations with the Russian Federation."
Relations between Germany and Russia
Berlin condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supported sanctions against the Kremlin, regularly providing military, financial, and humanitarian aid to Kyiv.
In April, Germany decided on the mass expulsion of Russian diplomats. Russia threatened a response.
Later, Moscow imposed restrictions on the number of employees allowed to work in German representations in Russia. Germany had to reduce its staff to 100 people.
