Russia orders German consulate in St. Petersburg to close

Russia is revoking permission for Germany's consulate general in St. Petersburg to operate, Report informs, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The consulate must cease operations no later than September 18, while all of its staff are required to leave Russian territory.

Moscow has also demanded the closure of German cultural centers named after Goethe in Russia. Their seconded employees must leave the country no later than September 13.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the head of the German diplomatic mission had been handed the relevant diplomatic notes.

The ministry said the measures were taken in response to Germany's September 7 closure of Russia's consulate general in Bonn and the Russian House of Science and Culture in Berlin.