Russian Ambassador to Berlin Sergey Nechaev announced on October 7 that the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn will complicate consular services for hundreds of thousands of Russians living in western Germany.
According to the diplomat, following the termination of operations at the Bonn representative office, the embassy in Berlin will remain the sole official Russian diplomatic institution within Germany. Nechaev emphasized that the closure would disproportionately impact access to consular and legal assistance for Russian citizens residing far from the German capital. “Not everyone can afford to travel from cities like Cologne, Munich, or Frankfurt am Main to obtain a passport or issue a power of attorney,” Nechaev stated during an interview.
German Foreign Minister Johann Vadefuhl declared on September 1 that the decision to shut down the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and end agreements for the Russian House in Berlin had been made. The Russian ambassador was also summoned to the German Foreign Ministry, with these actions tied to Berlin’s allegations 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.”
