Russia expels German consulate and Goethe Institute
Russia is closing the German consulate general in St Petersburg and all Goethe Institute branches in the country, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow announced Monday. German diplomats must vacate by September 18, and Goethe Institute staff by September 13. The move responds to Germany's closure of Russia House in Berlin and the Russian consulate in Bonn, following Berlin's accusation that Moscow attempted an explosive drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport last month. Russian officials called the German action a "serious mistake" and cited alleged forged evidence. President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned Germany's allegations, with Lavrov comparing the closures to pre-World War II events and suggesting Germany sought war again, according to Russia's Vesti news program.