Germany asks Russia to close most consulates

Germany has asked Russia to close four of its five consulates in the country, in response to Moscow limiting the number of Berlin staff.

The decision has been forwarded to the Russian Foreign Ministry, requiring Moscow to "promptly arrange the closure of the four consulates, to be completed by December 31, 2023 at the latest," German Foreign Ministry spokesman Christofer Burger said on May 31.

Russia currently has consulates in Bonn, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich. Moscow is still allowed to maintain an embassy in Berlin and a consulate.

The move is aimed at establishing “structural and personnel” equivalence between the two countries, Burger said. Berlin will also close its consulates in Kaliningrad, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk. Operations at the consulates will be significantly reduced before ceasing completely in November. The German embassy in Moscow and the German consulate in St. Petersburg will not be affected.

Moscow accused Berlin of "undermining mutually beneficial cooperation that has existed for decades" and warned of retaliation. "Germany should understand that these thoughtless provocations will be met with an appropriate response," the Russian Foreign Ministry said, without elaborating.

Pedestrians walk past the Russian embassy in Berlin, Germany in September 2020. Photo: AP

The move comes after Moscow last week imposed a 350-person limit on German government employees in Russia, meaning hundreds of civil servants and local employees working for German institutions will have to leave Russia or lose their jobs from June.

“This absurd decision forces Germany to significantly reduce its presence in all areas in Russia,” Mr. Burger said.

Relations between Russia and Germany have deteriorated rapidly since Moscow launched its campaign in Ukraine. Germany, once Russia’s largest buyer of crude oil and gas, is now looking for new partners to completely replace its supplies from Russia.

In April, Germany expelled several Russian diplomats “to reduce the presence of intelligence agencies.” Russia responded by expelling about 20 German embassy staff. In the spring of 2022, Germany expelled about 40 Russian diplomats, accusing them of threatening its security.

Nhu Tam (According to AP, Reuters )

Source link