The Nobel Foundation has withdrawn its invitation to representatives of Russia, Belarus and Iran to attend this year's Nobel Prize Ceremony following a backlash. The foundation said it had decided to withdraw invitations to the award ceremony to diplomats from these countries due to protests and strong backlash in Sweden.

#WATCH | Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh: "I think it was a very surprising thing to do....last year, Russia was not invited, so it was a surprise to everybody that they (Nobel Foundation) changed their mind this year. But now they have withdrawn that invitation because many… pic.twitter.com/0FFJtY4ilD

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Sweden's MPs' protest had an effect

Indeed, several Swedish MPs announced a boycott of this year's Nobel Prize ceremony after Russia, Belarus and Iran were invited. Swedish PM Ulf Kristerson said he would not allow Russian representatives to attend the awards ceremony if given the option. MPs said the countries were invited despite Russia's coercive war against Ukraine and Iran's crackdown on anti-hijab women protesters and human rights activists.

Belarus accused of supporting Russia

Belarus is a key ally of Russia, and its president, Alexander Lukashenko, has supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine. These are countries that do not support democratic values ​​in any way. Last year too, diplomats from Russia and Iran were not invited to the award ceremony. Five of the six Nobel ceremonies take place in Stockholm on December 10 each year, while the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo.