Nobel Foundation Revoke Invitations to Russian and Belarusian Ambassadors

The Nobel Foundation has reversed its decision to invite ambassadors from authoritarian states involved in the war in Ukraine to its annual award ceremony following condemnation from Kyiv and other European capitals.

As reported by Politico, the Swedish trust acknowledged that its policy of inviting ambassadors from all countries "in accordance with previous practice" had generated a strong reaction.

In response to mounting criticism, including from the Swedish government, the organizers will "decide to repeat last year's exception from the usual practice—namely, not to invite ambassadors from Russia, Belarus, and Iran to the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm." However, they clarified that their invitation to the parallel ceremony in Oslo remains in effect.

Sweden's Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, expressed his surprise upon seeing the invitation extended to a representative from Moscow, stating that he would not have made such a decision. Representatives of leading Swedish political parties declared a boycott of the event.

In light of this, Kristersson welcomed the decision to rescind the invitations to Russia and Belarus. "This timely and strong reaction demonstrates that all of Sweden unequivocally stands with Ukraine against Russia's terrible aggression," the Prime Minister's office stated on social media.

Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warned that the initial decision would embolden Russia and reinforce the Kremlin's "sense of impunity."

Belarus declared its support for Russia's war against Ukraine, offering its territory as a launching pad for attacks, while Iran supplied Moscow with drones to replenish its depleted military arsenal.

On Friday, Russia's Ministry of Justice designated the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Dmitry Muratov, as a "foreign agent" as part of the ongoing crackdown on independent media and civil society. The prominent journalist and former editor of the banned liberal newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" was positively regarded in the Kremlin prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Last year, dozens of European politicians and Members of the European Parliament signed an open letter urging the Nobel Foundation to consider President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the Nobel Peace Prize due to Russia's aggression.

Previously, the Nobel Foundation had announced on its website that it would extend invitations to diplomats from all countries accredited in Sweden, including ambassadors from Russia, Belarus, and Iran. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the Nobel Foundation's decision to invite Russian and Belarusian diplomats due to Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

Several Swedish politicians also announced they would boycott the Nobel Prize banquet in response to the invitation extended to the Russian ambassador.