Norway comments on consul’s 'I hate Russians' tirade
Norway’s Foreign Ministry has expressed regret over an incident involving its consul in the northern Russian city of Murmansk, in which the diplomat launched a verbal assault against hotel staff.
Oslo explained that Elisabeth Ellingsen's words – in which she expressed her "hate" for Russians do not reflect the country’s attitude towards the people of its neighbor, in a statement sent to RT on Saturday.
A video posted by news outlet Mash shows Ellingsen being rude with the staff at a Russian hotel and swearing. “I hate Russians,” Ellingsen says in English. “You know, I’m used to [staying in] clean rooms. I’m from Scandinavia, not some Russian woman.”
The incident took place at a premises run by Azimut, a Russian chain that operates hotels in Germany, Austria and Israel, in addition to those in its home market.
Earlier on Saturday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the Norwegian diplomat for her “hateful” speech, saying that Moscow is now “considering options on how to respond to this outrageous act of hatred, nationalism and xenophobia.”
