Berlin revokes license of four Russian consulates

The German government is revoking the licenses of four of the five Russian consulates in the country, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

The move comes in response to Moscow's decision to limit the number of German officials in Russia to 350, the spokesperson said, adding that the withdrawal is to be completed by the end of the year.

German consulates in Kaliningrad, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk will be closed, leaving only the German embassy in Moscow and the consulate in St Petersburg in operation, the spokesperson added.