A new conflict is flaring up in diplomatic relations between Germany and Russia. This time, Russia has announced the closure of Germany’s consulate-general in St Petersburg, demanding that the consulate cease operations by 18 September. This decision was in response to alleged ‘unfriendly actions’ by the German side, as explained by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
However, this is not the only measure taken by the Russian authorities. Staff at the Goethe-Institut cultural centres must leave the country by 13 September, after which the centres themselves will cease operations. The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has already confirmed this information, emphasising that it is a necessary response to Germany’s actions.
Berlin has not yet provided an official comment on this statement, but the events leading up to this decision shed light on the reasons for the tension. In August, a drone carrying explosives was discovered at Leipzig Airport in Germany, near a Ukrainian military transport aircraft. This incident prompted the closure of the ‘Russian House’ in Berlin and the last Russian consulate in Germany, located in Bonn.
Germany’s Interior and Foreign Ministers accused Russia of involvement in this attempted sabotage, which provoked a strong reaction from Moscow. Dmitry Peskov, the Russian President’s press secretary, described Germany’s actions as an ‘escalation’, whilst Lavrov himself stated that this accusation was akin to ‘the start of a real war’. President Vladimir Putin linked these accusations to internal political processes in Germany.
The situation remains tense, and further developments could lead to significant changes in diplomatic relations between the two countries.