The Power Within: The Kyiv Independent’s first-ever magazine. Be among the first to get it.

pre-order now
Skip to content
Edit post

Nobel Foundation invites Russia and Belarus to award celebrations

by Artem Mamadzhanov September 1, 2023 1:55 AM 2 min read
Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski is seen in the courtroom at the start of his hearing in Minsk on Jan. 5, 2023. (Photo by Vitaly Pivovarchik/BELTA/AFP via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

The Nobel Foundation announced on Aug. 31 that it will invite all diplomats represented in Sweden to  its Nobel Prize award ceremony, an expansion that includes representatives from Russia and Belarus.

“It is clear that the world is increasingly divided into spheres, where dialogue between those with differing views is being reduced,” said Vidar Helgesen, executive director of the Nobel Foundation.

This year's award ceremony and banquet will be held on Dec. 10.

Last year, the Nobel Foundation announced they would not invite representatives of Russia and Belarus to the Stockholm celebrations as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine.

In 2022, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Belarusian Ales Bialiatski, a pro-democracy activist recently sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Belarusian court.

While the Aug. 31 announcement did not specifically address Bialiatski's imprisonment or Russia's full-scale invastion of Ukraine, the Foundation justified its decision by saying that "we are living in an increasingly polarised world, characterised by denial of science, resistance to knowledge and threats to freedom of expression, democracy and human rights."

The Nobel Foundation's decision comes a month after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced it would ban Russia and Belarus from the 2024 Games in Paris.

Ukraine war latest: Russia delivers tactical nukes to Belarus, says military intelligence chief
Key developments on Aug. 31: * Russia delivers nukes to Belarus, says Budanov * Russia reportedly tortured 75 deported Ukrainian children * Zelensky: Ukrainian-made weapon proves 700 kilometer range * Media: Defense minister likely to be replaced * Russian officials claim drones downed in Mosc…

News Feed

12:24 PM

Ukraine receives $400 million tranche from IMF.

The funds represent the latest tranche of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, which will provide Kyiv with $15.6 billion in budget support over four years. With the additional $400 million in funding, the program has now distributed $10.1 billion in financing to Ukraine.
8:59 AM

Shooter opens fire on police in Russia's Murmansk.

The man began shooting from the roof of a building at Kolskiy Avenue 10 in the central part of the city, after which the authorities stormed the roof and "neutralized" the attacker, the regional Investigative Committee said.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.