Germany withdraws work permits for Russian consulates

In response to Russia's restrictions on the number of German civil servants on its territory, Germany has revoked the work permits of four of the five Russian consulates in Germany.

This was reported by Spiegel.

The spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin announced that Germany is responding to Russia's reduction of the number of employees of all German diplomatic missions and other organizations, such as the Goethe Institute, to 350 people, and is closing four Russian consulates in response.

According to him, the Russian side was informed of the decision on May 31 and Moscow is asked to finally close these consulates by December 31, 2023.

One more consulate general and the Russian embassy will be able to continue working.

The spokesman noted that this decision creates "structural and staffing parity".

At the same time, Germany is closing three of its consulates in Russia starting in November - in Kaliningrad, Yekaterinburg, and Novosibirsk.

A German Foreign Ministry spokesman called Russia's decision an escalation. "This unjustified decision forces the federal government to make very significant cuts in all areas of our presence in Russia," he said.

Author - Olena Madiak, 31/05/2023