Someone give these guys a Nobel prize in Good Ideas for inviting the Russian ambassador in the first place.
> Foundation backtracks on earlier announcement that representatives from Russia, Belarus and Iran would be invited
>
> In 2022, the Nobel Foundation, which organises the annual Nobel prize ceremony and banquet in Stockholm, decided not to invite the Russian and Belarusian ambassadors to the awards event because of the war in Ukraine.
>
> It made the same decision regarding the Iranian envoy over the country’s crackdown on protests.
>
> The Swedish foundation said on Thursday that it was returning to its previous practice of inviting ambassadors from all countries represented in Sweden. This sparked a wave of angry reactions, with several Swedish politicians saying they would boycott this year’s Nobel prize ceremony.
>
> On Saturday the foundation said Thursday’s decision had been based on a belief “that it is important and right to reach out as widely as possible with the values and messages that the Nobel prize stands for”. It noted, however, that the strong reactions “completely overshadowed this message”.
>
> “We, therefore, choose to repeat last year’s exception to regular practice – that is, to not invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to the Nobel prize award ceremony in Stockholm.”
>
> …
>
> The decision to once again invite the Russian and Belarusian representatives sparked ire in Sweden and abroad, Agence-France Presse reported.
>
> The Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson, Oleg Nikolenko, wrote on Facebook that the foundation should support efforts to isolate Russia and Belarus as “millions of Ukrainians suffer from an unprovoked war and the Russian regime is not punished for its crimes”.
>
> The Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, also said he disagreed with the foundation’s decision. “I would not have done it if I were handling invites to an award ceremony and I understand that it upsets many people in both Sweden and Ukraine,” he told AFP.
>
> Several prominent Swedish politicians, including the leaders of the centre, green, left and liberal parties, said they would boycott the event over the Russian ambassador’s presence.
Somebody actually had to tell the Nobel Foundation…
3 comments
Someone give these guys a Nobel prize in Good Ideas for inviting the Russian ambassador in the first place.
> Foundation backtracks on earlier announcement that representatives from Russia, Belarus and Iran would be invited
>
> In 2022, the Nobel Foundation, which organises the annual Nobel prize ceremony and banquet in Stockholm, decided not to invite the Russian and Belarusian ambassadors to the awards event because of the war in Ukraine.
>
> It made the same decision regarding the Iranian envoy over the country’s crackdown on protests.
>
> The Swedish foundation said on Thursday that it was returning to its previous practice of inviting ambassadors from all countries represented in Sweden. This sparked a wave of angry reactions, with several Swedish politicians saying they would boycott this year’s Nobel prize ceremony.
>
> On Saturday the foundation said Thursday’s decision had been based on a belief “that it is important and right to reach out as widely as possible with the values and messages that the Nobel prize stands for”. It noted, however, that the strong reactions “completely overshadowed this message”.
>
> “We, therefore, choose to repeat last year’s exception to regular practice – that is, to not invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus and Iran to the Nobel prize award ceremony in Stockholm.”
>
> …
>
> The decision to once again invite the Russian and Belarusian representatives sparked ire in Sweden and abroad, Agence-France Presse reported.
>
> The Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson, Oleg Nikolenko, wrote on Facebook that the foundation should support efforts to isolate Russia and Belarus as “millions of Ukrainians suffer from an unprovoked war and the Russian regime is not punished for its crimes”.
>
> The Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, also said he disagreed with the foundation’s decision. “I would not have done it if I were handling invites to an award ceremony and I understand that it upsets many people in both Sweden and Ukraine,” he told AFP.
>
> Several prominent Swedish politicians, including the leaders of the centre, green, left and liberal parties, said they would boycott the event over the Russian ambassador’s presence.
Somebody actually had to tell the Nobel Foundation…