Russia summons Norwegian ambassador after alleged ‘Russophobic’ comments

Reuters was unable to immediately verify the footage that was circulating on social media.

Russia’s foreign ministry summoned Norway’s ambassador to Moscow on Thursday in protest at what it called the Norwegian consul in Murmansk’s “offensive Russophobic comments.”

Footage on Russian social media showed what it said was the consul appearing to say “I hate Russians.” Reuters was unable to immediately verify the footage.

“The ambassador repeated the Norwegian foreign ministry’s apology, and reiterated that the employee’s words in no way reflect Norwegian policy or Norwegian attitudes towards Russia or the Russian people,” the foreign ministry in Oslo said.

Norway in June temporarily closed its Murmansk consulate.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, two Norwegian diplomatic vehicles had pro-war “Z” stickers attached to them, the Independent Barents Observer reported.