British Consulate General in St. Petersburg officially closed. This was reported by the British Embassy in writing to the embassy page on Twitter.
According to the British Embassy, British Consulate General in St. Petersburg officially closed, because such measure has been taken against the consulate government of Russia after their actions in Salisbury. On Monday, the British flag was lowered in the presence of Acting. Consul General in St. Petersburg Elizabeth Webb, pervogo Consul General Barbara Hay, Sangeeta Ahuja former Consul General and Deputy British Ambassador to Russia Lindsay Skoll. At the ceremony attended by the former head of the head of the British Council in Russia, Michael Byrd.
Recall, the British Consulate General was closed as a response to the expulsion of the British authorities several Russian diplomats. Earlier persona non grata in Russia were declared 23 diplomatic staff of the British Embassy, as well as to revoke the authorization for the opening of the Consulate General of Great Britain in St. Petersburg. Also announced the completion of the work of the British Council in Russia.
Such measures were a response to Russian accusations of involvement in the incident with the departure of ex-officer Sergei Skripal GRU in Salisbury and the expulsion of Russian diplomat London.
