The tensions in the already bad relationship between Germany and Russia continue to increase. The federal government withdraws the license from four out of five Russian consulates general in Germany. This is a reaction to the decision by the government in Moscow to limit the number of employees of German institutions in Russia to 350, said Christofer Burger, a spokesman for the Federal Foreign Office. From the end of the year, Russia will only be allowed to operate the embassy in Berlin and another of the five consulates general so far. The withdrawal should therefore take place by the end of the year.
At the same time, the German consulates in Kaliningrad, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk are to be closed. The German embassy in Moscow and the consulate in Saint Petersburg will remain in operation. There is currently a Russian consulate general on German soil in Bonn, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich. Russia decides for itself which ones to keep, said Burger. Despite the closure, diplomatic channels between Berlin and Moscow should be maintained, he stressed.
Last week, the Russian government announced that it would expel hundreds of employees in German institutions – including diplomats, but also teachers and employees of the Goethe Institute. Not only Germans are affected by this step, but also Russian citizens who work for German agencies.
The topic is now closed for the federal government
The decision was met with criticism and incomprehension in Berlin. After the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Germany began expelling 40 non-accredited secret service employees. Russia responded by expelling the same number of German diplomats, who, according to the Federal Foreign Office, “were not guilty of anything. We had to reckon with this step, even if we don’t think it was justified,” said Burger.
Then on Saturday, Russia made the decision to reduce the German presence to 350 and accused Berlin of hostile action. The Federal Foreign Office describes this as an escalation. With the now announced reaction of the federal government, the personnel and structural parity has been established, the topic is closed for the federal government, said the spokesman for the Federal Foreign Office. Burger left it open how many Russian employees are allowed to stay in Germany.
The Federal Foreign Office had already announced a reaction to this drastic step on Saturday. “With regard to the upper limit for the Russian presence in Germany, the federal government will ensure that there is a real balance in practice.”