Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described Berlin’s accusations against Moscow in connection with the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport as a «real war». The German government has held Russia politically responsible for the incident and announced retaliatory measures, including consular and sanctions-related initiatives.
Briefly about the main points
- Lavrov reacted strongly to the German accusations against Russia.
- Berlin has linked Moscow to an attempted attack in Leipzig/Halle.
- Germany has described the incident as a hybrid attack.
- The criminal investigation in Germany is still ongoing.
- Moscow has announced the closure of three Goethe-Institut branches.
Russia’s reaction to Berlin’s decision
Comment. Lavrova came after the German authorities had publicly announced their assessment of the incident. The Russian minister described the accusations as an escalation in relations with Germany.
Previously, Moscow She also announced that she would close the Goethe-Institut branches in Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. The Russian authorities directly linked this move to Berlin’s decisions regarding the «Russian House».
What is the basis for Germany’s position?
The German Government On 1 September, he stated that Russia bore political responsibility for the attempted attack that took place on 4 August. According to Berlin’s assessment, this conclusion is based on a combination of data from the police investigation, the characteristic features of the operation and intelligence information.
Germany has classified the incident as a hybrid attack, although the criminal investigation and legal proceedings are not yet complete. Berlin has summoned the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry, plans to close the Russian Consulate-General in Bonn from 18 September, and intends to propose new sanctions at EU level.
