The Nobel Foundation announced on Saturday, September 2, that it was refusing to invite the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus to this year’s Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm after their invitation sparked outrage.
“We have decided to repeat last year’s extraordinary measure of not inviting the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm,” she wrote in a press release. Regarding Iran, the foundation’s decision was made due to the suppression of protests in the country.
“A victory for humanism,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman wrote on Facebook. Oleg Nikolenko also expressed the hope that a “similar decision” would be made when the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in Oslo.
The Swedish foundation announced on Thursday that it would return to its previous practice of inviting ambassadors from all countries represented in Sweden, sparking a wave of anger.
She explained Saturday that her original decision was based on the belief “that it is important and right to spread as widely as possible the values and messages that the Nobel Prize represents.” However, the strong reactions it provoked “completely overshadowed this message.” Oleg Nikolenko condemned a decision that had caused “an increased feeling of impunity” among the Russian authorities.
Boycott threats
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Friday he disagreed with the foundation’s decision and said he understood “that it bothers many people in Sweden and Ukraine.”
Several prominent Swedish politicians, including the leaders of the Center Party, the Greens, the Left Party and the Liberals, had threatened to boycott the event if the Russian ambassador attended.
The ceremony takes place every year on December 10th in Stockholm, the day on which the winners of the prizes in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and economics receive their prize from the hands of King Carl XVI. Gustaf, an awards ceremony followed by a gala dinner attended by around 1,200 guests.
A separate ceremony for the Nobel Peace Prize winner will take place in Oslo on the same day. Last year, the Norwegian Nobel Institute invited all ambassadors present in Norway to the ceremony and plans to do so again this year.