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Russian Foreign Ministry Says Norwegian Diplomat Should Leave Country Over 'Russophobic' Insults

By RFE/RL August 04, 2022

Russia's Foreign Ministry says a Norwegian diplomat should leave the country because of "Russophobic" statements she made.

Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on August 4 that Norwegian Ambassador to Russia Rune Resaland was summoned over the "unacceptable behavior" of Elisabeth Ellingsen, Norwegian consul in the Arctic city of Murmansk, at a hotel reception that was recorded on a security camera and distributed online over the weekend.

"After what happened, Elisabeth Ellingsen's presence in Russia is impossible," the statement said.

In the video, posted on a Telegram channel on July 30, Ellingsen was seen frustrated as she waited for a clean room and used words insulting the hotel staff and Russians in general.

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said earlier it "deeply regretted" the incident.

The diplomatic incident comes as relations between Russia and the West have been tense since late February after Russia launched its ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-norwegian-diplomat- russophobic-murmansk-ellingsen/31973800.html

Copyright (c) 2022. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.