German Consulate General in St Petersburg closes

Germany’s Consulate General in St Petersburg ceased operations on September 18, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s representative office in the city, Interfax reported.

“The official date for the cessation of operations of the German Consulate General is September 18. The consulate’s staff have vacated the building at 39 Furshtatskaya Street,” the office told the news agency.

It was previously reported that Moscow had decided to withdraw its consent for the operation of the German Consulate General in St Petersburg and the Goethe cultural centres in Russia. The move was linked to Berlin’s “unfriendly actions” in closing the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian House of Science and Culture, known as the Russian House, in the German capital.

Staff at the Consulate General were required to leave Russia no later than September 18, while seconded staff at the Goethe centres were required to leave by September 13.