Protest action at the former Russian consulate in Leipzig

Following a protest at the former Russian consulate in Leipzig, police are investigating on suspicion of trespassing. As the Leipzig police department announced on Friday, six people - three women and three men - aged between 29 and 41 had scaled the fence of the site the day before and then unfurled a poster referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin on a balcony of the building, which is still inhabited. They were then taken away by police officers. "Several cell phones were seized to preserve evidence and identification procedures were carried out," it said. The action was subsequently reported as a spontaneous gathering under the motto "Countries to those who inhabit them" with a total of 21 participants.

In response to the expulsion of German officials, the German government banned Russia from operating four consulates general in Germany at the end of last year. The facility in Leipzig was also affected.