The Kremlin has said that a Norwegian consul cannot remain in Russia after being recorded on video saying, “I hate Russians,” during an angry outburst in a hotel lobby.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Elisabeth Ellingsen could not stay in the country after making “Russophobic statements” at a hotel in Murmansk, Russia, on July 6.
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“I hate Russians. … Just give me a room. … I’m used to clean rooms. I’m from Scandinavia,” Ellingsen
was recorded saying, according to CBS.
Russia’s foreign ministry said it had summoned Rune Resaland, the Norwegian ambassador to Russia, to discuss Ellingsen’s “unacceptable behavior” on Thursday. Resaland apologized for the incident during the meeting, the Kremlin noted.
“It was pointed out that Elisabeth Ellingsen cannot remain in the Russian Federation after that incident,” said Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement.
Guri Solberg, a spokeswoman for the Norwegian foreign ministry, acknowledged Thursday that Resaland was informed by Russia that Ellingsen’s visa had been revoked.
The Norwegian foreign ministry said over the weekend that Ellingsen’s comments “do not reflect Norwegian policy.”
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Norway announced in June that it would temporarily close the consulate general in Murmansk, located in northwestern Russia, beginning on July 1, citing that there was “virtually no activity,” according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.
It’s unclear what prompted Ellingsen’s outburst.
