More than 150 Russian diplomats and members of their families are required to leave Germany, the Russian Embassy in Berlin said.
The move follows a decision by German authorities to close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin after Germany formally attributed a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport to Russia.
The Russian Embassy described Germany’s actions as “unprecedented and entirely unprovoked steps aimed at destroying Russian-German relations”.
In early August, several drones carrying explosives were discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport. One was found near a Ukrainian military transport aircraft, while another was detected close to the airport.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt later said that those responsible for the “hybrid attack” had acted on behalf of Russian state structures.
Following the incident, German authorities decided to close the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin, as well as tighten controls on Russian nationals entering the country.
In response, Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced that Germany’s Consulate General in St Petersburg must close no later than September 18. Its employees are required to leave Russia by that date.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said that branches of the Goethe-Institut in Russia would cease operations.
Germany had already closed its consulates in Kaliningrad, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk at the end of 2023 as relations with Russia deteriorated. As a result, the German Embassy in Moscow is now Germany’s only remaining diplomatic mission in Russia.
