A video of a Norwegian diplomat on a hotel visit in Murmansk in Russia has been circulating in Russian and international media. In the video, which was published by Russian media yesterday, the Norwegian diplomat makes several harsh statements to the hotel staff about Russia and Russians. – I hate Russians. I am addicted to clean rooms. I am from Scandinavia and not a Russian lady, she says to the receptionists. According to what news understands, the woman visited the hotel in connection with the closure of the Norwegian consulate general in Murmansk on 1 July. The woman was to spend the night at the Azimut hotel in Murmansk before she was then to leave Russia when the incident took place. Editor in the Barents Observer, Thomas Nilsen, believes the video is an emissary from Russian intelligence. He questions the fact that the video was played now, a month after the episode happened. – It is a kind of “thank you for the last time” from the Russian authorities – shortly after the Norwegian diplomats left Russia, says Nilsen. No official protest from the Kremlin The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs closed the consulate general in Murmansk as a result of the fact that the scope of the consulate has been severely restricted. The closure is temporary, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed that it may be prolonged. Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, reacted strongly to the video, saying that they are “considering how to respond to this terrible act of hatred, nationalism and xenophobia”. So far, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry has not received any official protest from the Kremlin in connection with the case. Head of Communications at the Foreign Ministry, Tuva Bogsnes, will not comment on whether the video episode will become a political issue between Norway and Russia. Photo: William Jobling / news The Ministry of Foreign Affairs nevertheless strongly distances itself from the content of the Norwegian diplomat’s statements. – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly regrets this incident. These statements in no way illustrate Norwegian policy or Norwegian attitudes towards Russians, says head of communications at the Foreign Ministry, Tuva Bogsnes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not say anything about whether this matter will be commented on at a political level. – The case is now handled internally in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says Bogsnes. The Norwegian Consulate General in Murmansk was temporarily closed on 1 July this summer. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed that the closure may be prolonged. Photo: Consulate General in Murmansk File case blown out of proportion Specialist in diplomacy, Iver B. Neumann, believes that this is actually a file case that is blown out of proportion. The episode will be used internally to rebuild a story that the whole world hates Russia, he believes. – It’s one thing for a Norwegian diplomat to say something like this, but it’s also funny that the Russians make this a big issue at national level. The Russians will drive it until the bone is gnawed and then it’s over, he says. Specialist in diplomacy, Iver B. Neumann, thinks it is funny that Russia is blowing this up into a major issue at national level. Photo: Jan Dalsgaard Sørensen The matter will probably not be a topic in the communication between Norway and Russia on official occasions, Neumann and Nilsen believe. – Spokesperson Maria Zakharova has been a tirade of hate speech for the past two or three years. She has made so many strange statements against countries that Russia defines as unfriendly. We will not take what she says seriously, says editor Nilsen. Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, says that the Russian authorities will assess how they will react to the incident with the Norwegian diplomat. Photo: OLGA MALTSEVA / AFP Former ambassador to Lithuania and Romania, Leif Arne Ulland, also questions the publication of this video. – The statements from the relevant diplomat are deplorable and in no way represent Norwegian diplomats’ views on Russians and Russia, as I know it. At the same time, I question why someone on the Russian side has found it opportune to publish this episode, he writes to news. news has tried to get in touch with several representatives in the Norwegian Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Few have answered the preliminary question. – I understand that diplomats and others are very angry and frustrated by Russia’s behavior in Ukraine, but to use such strong words and say that one hates Russia and Russians collectively, I think that is unheard of, says committee member Christian Tybring-Gjedde (Frp) .
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Bid on the hotel because the Foreign Ministry closed the consulate in Murmansk – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
