Berlin Strikes Back: Nearly All Russian Consulates in Germany Closure

In response to Russia's restrictions on the number of German public officials within its territory, Germany has rescinded the working permissions of four out of five Russian consulates within its borders, reports Spiegel. As stated by a spokesman for the German Foreign Office in Berlin, Germany is reacting to Russia's reduction of all employees of German diplomatic missions and other organisations such as the Goethe Institute to 350 persons, and in return is closing four Russian consulates.

The Russian side was informed about the decision on May 31st, and Moscow is asked to definitively cease these consulates' operations by December 31, 2023. One general consulate and the Russian embassy will be able to continue operations.

The spokesman pointed out that this decision establishes a "structural and personnel parity". Additionally, the German Federal Foreign Office announced that it will close three of its own consulates in Russia in November: those in Kaliningrad, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk.

In turn, Russia announces an "appropriate response" to the closure of the consulates. Moscow refers to this as an "unfriendly step" due to the fact that four out of five German consulates must close. The Russian Foreign Ministry is now threatening retaliatory measures.

We remind you that it became known a few days ago that numerous German public officials had to leave Russia because Moscow introduced an "upper limit on the number of German diplomatic missions and German intermediary organizations". This restriction will take effect from the beginning of June. Due to the restrictions imposed by Russia, the number of employees of the German general consulates in Russia is already insufficient for consular support, the German Foreign Office reports.

The spokesman for the German foreign ministry referred to Russia's decision as an escalation. "This unjustified decision forces the federal government to make very significant cuts in all areas of our presence in Russia," he said.

Moscow adopted its decision, likely in response to attempts by the German government to get rid of Russian intelligence officers disguised as diplomats. When a significant number of employees left Germany in April, the Russian Foreign Ministry spoke of "hostile actions by Berlin" and warned of consequences.

Last March, Ukrainian intelligence revealed the identities of 620 Russian spies in European countries. A list of agents, who are employees of the Russian FSB, was published on the GUR website – their names, passport details, information about places of work and residence, and about their cars.

Overall, in a few months of full-scale Russian war in Ukraine, 423 Russian diplomats, likely undercover intelligence officers, were expelled from European countries: Austria – 4, Bulgaria – 10, Belgium – 21, Greece – 12, Denmark – 15, Estonia – 17, Ireland – 4, Spain – 25, Italy – 30, Latvia – 16, Lithuania – 5, Luxembourg – 1, Netherlands – 17, Norway – 3, North Macedonia – 5, Poland – 45, Portugal – 10, Romania – 10, Slovakia – 38, Slovenia – 33, Germany – 40, France – 35, Czech Republic – 1, Montenegro – 4, Sweden – 3, EU – 19.