Image: (AFP)
At the same time, the organization defended its earlier decision. It is considered important and right to spread the values and messages for which the Nobel Prize stands as widely as possible, the statement said. A clear political message was sent last year with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to pioneers for human rights from Russia and Belarus as well as Ukrainians who deal with the documentation of Russian war crimes.
However, the “strong reaction” in Sweden threatened to overshadow this message, it said. “We have therefore decided to repeat the exception to last year’s regular practice – that is, not to invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm.”
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson criticized the invitation on Friday, and several high-ranking Swedish politicians announced that they would stay away from the celebrations if the Russian ambassador attended. The presentation 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 by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo on the same day. “As before,” all ambassadors would be invited, the statement from Stockholm said.
Source: Nachrichten
