Russia Closes German Consulate as Diplomatic Spat Widens

Russia has ordered the closure of the German consulate in Bonn and the Goethe-Institut in retaliation for Germany's closure of Russian consulates. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented on the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn. The move comes amid a worsening diplomatic dispute between the two countries. The Kremlin has welcomed the electoral success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), with a Kremlin representative saying that "part of Germany seems to be awakening." The BSW party has stated it shares common ground with the AfD on issues related to Russia and sanctions.