Germany intends to tighten visa issuance for Russians following accusations of sabotage and ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Martin Giese announced that Germany plans to further reduce the number of tourist visas issued to Russian citizens. This decision follows Germany's formal accusation that Russia was responsible for an attempted sabotage involving drones at Leipzig Airport. In response to the incident, Germany also announced the closure of the Russian consulate general in Bonn and the “Russian House” in Berlin.

Visa Restrictions and Security Concerns

Giese stated that tourist travel from Russia cannot continue in its current format while the country “wages an aggressive war.” Germany intends to coordinate with European Union partners to further lower visa numbers, aiming to ensure that only individuals who pose no danger are granted entry. The ministry declined to provide specific details on how these security determinations will be made, citing a desire to prevent the circumvention of control measures.

Sabotage Allegations and Diplomatic Fallout

The tension follows the discovery of drones, including one with explosives, near a Ukrainian An-124 cargo plane at Leipzig Airport on the night of August 5. On September 1, Germany officially attributed the attempted sabotage to Russia. Consequently, Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergei Nechaev confirmed that staff at the “Russian House” in Berlin have been ordered to leave the country within seven days. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov characterized Germany’s actions as a path toward further escalation.