Russia and Belarus may once again join the prestigious Nobel Prize banquet, despite the war in Ukraine

There were no representatives of Russia and Belarus in the Blue Room of Stockholm City Hall at the end of last year. A prestigious gala dinner is held there every year after the Nobel Prizes are awarded. There is a formal dress code for guests.

Usually, ambassadors of all countries represented diplomatically in Sweden are invited, but due to the war in Ukraine, the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus were banned last year. Russia as the aggressor, and Belarus as an important ally supporting the “special military operation” in Ukraine and opening its territory to the Russian army.

But at the end of this year they will be allowed to join again. This is what the Nobel Foundation decided. The Foundation no longer wants to exclude the two countries, even if, according to the Foundation, they do not share the values ​​of the Nobel Prize.

“It is clear that the world is becoming more and more divided into spheres, with less and less dialogue between people with different points of view. To counter this trend, we extend our calls to promote the Nobel Prize and the importance of free science and free culture, and to celebrate and understand free and peaceful societies,” explains Vidar Helgesen, Director Nobel Foundation.