After harsh criticism of the invitation of the Russian ambassador to Sweden to the Nobel Prize ceremony, the Nobel Foundation revoked its decision. As in the previous year, representatives from Russia and its allies Belarus and Iran would not be invited to the prize-giving ceremony in Stockholm, the Nobel Foundation announced today.
At the same time, the organization defended its previous decision. They believe it is important and right to spread the values and messages that the Nobel Prize represents as widely as possible, the statement said.
A clear political message was sent last year with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to human rights defenders from Russia and Belarus, as well as Ukrainians who are involved in documenting Russian war crimes. But the “strong reaction” in Sweden threatened to overshadow this message, he said.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson yesterday criticized the invitation and several high-ranking Swedish politicians announced that they would stay away from the celebrations if the Russian ambassador attended.
The awarding of the Nobel Prizes for Literature, Medicine, Physics, Chemistry and Economics will take place on December 10th, in Stockholm. The Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded on the same day by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo. The Stockholm statement said that all ambassadors would be invited “as before”.