Russia closes German Consulate General in St. Petersburg
Russian authorities have decided to withdraw consent for the operation of the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in St. Petersburg. This decision was a response to the actions of the German side, which had previously demanded a reduction in the number of staff at Russian diplomatic and cultural missions in Germany.
According to the official order, the work of the German consulate in St. Petersburg must be completely terminated no later than September 18 of this year. By this same deadline, all employees of the diplomatic mission are required to leave the territory of the Russian Federation.
In addition to the consulate, the changes will also affect the work of cultural organizations. Specifically, the activities of the Goethe-Institut German language learning centers must be concluded by September 13. This decision significantly changes the format of cultural and diplomatic interaction between the two countries.
This situation is part of an ongoing process of reducing the diplomatic presence in relations between Russia and Germany. At present, both sides continue to monitor the development of events, and citizens planning to contact the consulate are advised to familiarize themselves with the new operating rules of the agency in advance.