Stockholm, Sweden - The Nobel Foundation has withdrawn its invitations for representatives of Russia, Belarus, and Iran to attend the Nobel Prize award ceremonies this year.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who had expressed his opposition to the participation of the three countries in the award ceremonies, expressed his satisfaction with the decision on social media, emphasizing Sweden's support for Ukraine against Russia's war of aggression.
This decision came after it sparked significant controversy, with some Swedish lawmakers announcing their intention to boycott the event. The private foundation, responsible for administering these prestigious awards, had initially invited representatives from the three countries, citing a desire to convey the Nobel Prize's important messages to a wider audience.
The boycott by some Swedish lawmakers was motivated by concerns over Russia's actions in Ukraine and human rights issues in Iran. Belarusian opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also urged the Nobel Foundation and the Norwegian Nobel Committee not to invite representatives of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's "illegitimate regime" to any events.
On Saturday, Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the Nobel Foundation's decision, viewing it as a clear demonstration of solidarity with the Belarusian and Ukrainian peoples. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko also praised the decision as a "victory for humanism" and called for a similar decision regarding the attendance of Russian and Belarusian ambassadors at celebrations in Norway following the ceremony in Sweden.
The Nobel Foundation acknowledged the strong reactions in Sweden, which prompted the reversal of its decision. Consequently, it decided not to invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus, and Iran to the ceremony in Stockholm, where the prizes in Sciences and Literatures are awarded. However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee, responsible for the Nobel Peace Prize, indicated that it would follow its usual practice and invite all ambassadors to the ceremony in Oslo, emphasizing the importance of giving government authorities from various countries the opportunity to engage with the Nobel Peace Prize laureates' message.
This decision received widespread praise in Sweden, with politicians and even the Swedish Royal House viewing the change in decision positively. King Carl XVI Gustaf plans to continue handing out this year's Nobel awards at ceremonies in Stockholm, as has been the tradition.
The Nobel Prize winners for this year will be announced in early October, with laureates invited to receive their awards at the glittering prize ceremonies on December 10, commemorating the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death in 1896.