Putin humiliated as Russia’s Nobel Prize ceremony invitation is revoked
Vladimir Putin has been publicly humiliated after the weird choice to ask representatives of Russia, Belarus and Iran to attend this yr’s Nobel Prize award ceremonies was reversed following a global outcry.
Nobel Foundation was pressured into an embarrassing climbdown after what Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who welcomed the choice, known as “many and strong reactions” to the preliminary announcement a day earlier.
Exiled Belarusian opposition chief Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fiercely criticised the choice to increase the invites, additionally praised the muse for altering its thoughts – albeit belatedly.
Several distinguished Swedish politicians beforehand threatened to boycott this yr’s Nobel Prize award ceremonies within the Swedish capital, Stockholm, after the non-public basis which administers the distinguished awards modified its place from a yr earlier and invited representatives of the three nations to attend, saying it “promotes opportunities to convey the important messages of the Nobel Prize to everyone”.
Some cited Russia‘s conflict on Ukraine and the crackdown on human rights in Iran as causes for his or her boycott.
Posting on X, previously Twitter, on Friday, Ms Tsikhanouskaya on Friday known as on the Swedish Nobel Foundation and the Norwegian Nobel Committee to not invite representatives of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s “illegitimate regime to any events.”
The following day, after the muse confirmed its rethink, she added: “I welcome the Nobel Foundation’s choice to cancel its invitation to associates of Lukashenko’s illegitimate regime.
“It’s an indication of solidarity & assist for our individuals. Democratic Belarus ought to be invited as a substitute.
“I trust the Nobel Committee will follow this example.”
She subsequently said it was a “a clear sign of solidarity with the Belarusian and Ukrainian peoples”, adding: “This is how you show your commitment to the principles and values of Nobel.”
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko called the decision a “victory for humanism.”
He wrote on Facebook: “Thank you to everyone who demanded that justice be restored.”
“A similar decision” should be made regarding the attendance of Russian and Belarusian ambassadors at celebrations taking place in Norway following the ceremony in Sweden, Mr Nikolenko added.
Mr Kristersson, who said Friday he would not have allowed the three countries to participate in the award ceremonies regardless, was also happy with the decision.
Also posting on X, he said: “The many and strong reactions show that the whole of Sweden unambiguously stand on Ukraine’s aspect in opposition to Russia’s appalling conflict of aggression.”
The basis stated Saturday it recognised “the strong reactions in Sweden, which completely overshadowed this message” and therefore it had decided not to invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to the award ceremony in Stockholm.
However, it said that it would follow its usual practice and invite all ambassadors to the ceremony in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded.
Saturday’s announcement was widely praised in Sweden by politicians.
Even the Swedish Royal House reacted with spokeswoman Margareta Thorgren saying, as quoted by newspaper Aftonbladet, that “we see the change in the decision as positive”.
She added that King Carl XVI Gustaf was planning at hand out this yr’s Nobel awards at ceremonies in Stockholm “as before.”
This yr’s Nobel prize winners can be introduced in early October. The laureates are then invited to obtain their awards at glittering prize ceremonies on December 10, the anniversary of award founder Alfred Nobel’s dying in 1896.