The Nobel Foundation gives up inviting the Russian ambassador

2023-09-02 14:36:00

The Nobel Foundation announced on Saturday that it was giving up inviting the Russian ambassador to this year’s Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, after anger over his invitation.

“We have chosen to reiterate last year’s exceptional measure, that is to say not to invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm”, the Nobel Foundation said in a statement. Regarding Iran, the foundation’s decision was made due to the crackdown on protests in the country.

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The Swedish foundation announced on Thursday that it was returning to its previous practice of inviting ambassadors from all countries represented in Sweden, which sparked a wave of anger.

She explained on Saturday that her initial decision was based on the belief “that it is important and right to disseminate as widely as possible the values ​​and messages represented by the Nobel Prize”. However, the strong reactions it has elicited “completely overshadowed this message”.

“Victory of Humanism”

The spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oleg Nikolenko thus denounced a decision giving rise to “a heightened sense of impunity” of Russian power. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told him on Friday that he did not agree with the Foundation’s decision, saying he understood “that it bothers a lot of people in Sweden and Ukraine”. Several prominent Swedish politicians, including leaders of the Center, Green, Left and Liberal parties, had threatened to boycott the event if the Russian ambassador was present.

“A victory for humanism”Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko wrote on Facebook on Saturday, who also expressed the wish that a “similar decision” be taken during the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize, which is held in Oslo on the same day.

The Nobel ceremony takes place every year in Stockholm on December 10, the day when the winners of the prizes in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and economics receive their prizes from the hands of King Carl XVI Gustaf, followed by a gala dinner bringing together some 1,200 guests.