The Nobel Foundation has withdrawn its invitation for representatives of Russia, Belarus, and Iran to attend this year’s Nobel Prize award ceremonies, after wild reactions.
Several Swedish lawmakers said Friday they would boycott this year’s Nobel Prize award ceremonies in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, as the three countries did not promote world peace.
Some of the lawmakers cited Russia’s war on Ukraine and the crackdown on human rights in Iran as reasons for their boycott.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who said Friday he wouldn’t have allowed the three countries to participate in the award ceremonies, was also happy with the decision.
The foundation said Saturday it recognized “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.
This year’s Nobel Prize winners will be announced in early October.
The laureates are then invited to receive their awards at glittering prize ceremonies on Dec. 10, the anniversary of award founder Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896.
