Nobel Prize invitation to Russia and Iran withdrawn
Nobel Prize invitation to Russia and Iran withdrawn
The U-turn comes after strong criticism against it in Sweden as well as by Ukraine.
When i originally read they were going to allow them back this year i knew it was a stupid decision. I cant help but feel this reversal is most likely due to some financial sponsors withdrawing more than anything.
It's baffling just how many governments and institutions usually regarded as respectable and intelligent have lately made these idiotic, tone-deaf decisions, only to have to backpedal a few days or weeks later with egg on their faces/reputations.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The Nobel Foundation has reversed a much-criticised decision to invite Russia, Belarus and Iran to this year's awards ceremony in Stockholm.
The awards ceremony is held in Stockholm on 10 December - the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the man who established the fund.
In its announcement on Saturday, the Nobel Foundation defended its earlier decision, saying "it is important and right to reach out as widely as possible with the values and messages that the Nobel Prize stands for - for example, through last year's clear political message with the peace prize awarded to human rights fighters from Russia and Belarus as well as to Ukrainians who work with documenting Russian war crimes".
"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.
Saturday's announcement does not address another part of the earlier message that has caused additional concern in Sweden.
This includes the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats - a party founded by Nazi sympathisers, who had been shunned by the mainstream for decades.
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