Russian ambassador voices hope for consulates’ return to Germany

Russia’s ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechayev, said in a RIA Novosti interview published on October 9 that he expects a return of Russia’s consular presence. He gave no specific timetable or agreement to reopen missions.

The ambassador said all five Russian consulates general in Germany had closed in recent years. He expressed confidence that the time to restore damaged ties was not far away. His remarks are a prediction rather than an announcement of a decision.

The consulate general in Bonn was the final mission being closed. Its notices confirm the winding down of operations and transfer of consular and notarial functions to the embassy in Berlin. The closure of consulates therefore does not mean that all consular assistance through the embassy has ended.

Nechayev also criticised the grounds cited by Germany for closing Russian facilities. RIA Novosti recalled the closure of the Bonn consulate and termination of the agreement concerning the Russian House in Berlin in September, along with Russian countermeasures against German institutions.