LEIPZIG, December 21. /TASS/. Russia’s ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechayev has described the authorities’ decision to close four Russian consulates-general in Germany as an unprecedented step in the history of bilateral relations.

"Russian-German relations are at a deplorable level. I am trying to express myself very carefully," Nechayev told Russian media following the decision to close the Russian consulate-general.

"The decision to close four Russian consulates in Germany is an unprecedented step in the history of our bilateral relations," he emphasized. Political comments on this step, according to the diplomat, have already been made.

"The step is unprecedented and it cannot be called friendly, of course, in any way. It is no choice of ours," he stressed.

At the same time, Nechayev noted that Russian consular missions have always been determined to develop good relations with German regions, economic ties, and cultural cooperation.

On May 31, Berlin notified Moscow of the need to stop the work of four of the five Russian consulates-general in Germany by the end of the year. Russia had consulates-general in Bonn, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Frankfurt on the Main. Now the interests of Russia in Germany will be represented by the embassy in Berlin and the consulate-general in Bonn.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Germany closed its consulates-general in Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Kaliningrad on its own initiative in line with its policy of curtailing Russian-German relations.