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Moscow said Thursday that a Norwegian consul can no longer stay in Russia after she was filmed declaring “I hate Russians” during an angry outburst at a hotel reception.
“After what happened, Elizabeth Ellingsen’s presence in Russia is impossible,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, the foreign ministry summoned Norwegian ambassador Rune Resaland and protested Ellingsen’s “offensive Russophobic comments”.
The Norwegian diplomat was recorded insulting Russians at a hotel reception in the Arctic city of Murmansk.
The video was published over the weekend by the Mash Telegram channel, which is said to be close to Russia’s security services, and caused an outcry in the country.
“I hate Russians… Just give me a room… I’m used to cleaning rooms, I’m from Scandinavia,” Ellingsen was recorded saying in English.
Ellingsen’s outburst comes at a time of tensions between Russia and the West Russia’s invasion of Ukrainewhich has prompted a series of US and European sanctions on Moscow.
Norway’s foreign ministry said over the weekend that it “deeply regrets” the incident.
“The sentiments expressed do not reflect Norwegian policy or the Norwegian attitude towards Russia,” the foreign ministry said.
On Thursday, Moscow said it had taken note of the Norwegian foreign ministry’s statement.
A spokeswoman for Norway’s foreign ministry, Guri Solberg, said Thursday that the country’s ambassador had been informed that Moscow had revoked Ellingsen’s visa.
The ambassador reiterated that the consul’s statements “do not reflect Norwegian policy,” Solberg said, adding that Ellingsen was not currently in Russia.
Norway said in June it was temporarily closing its consulate general in Murmansk.
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