The ambassadors of Russia and Belarus have been invited to the Nobel Prize dinner again this year after being excluded last year because of the war in Ukraine, the Nobel Foundation announced Thursday.

Invitation to the dinner held in Stockholm on December 10 – in the magnificent Blue Hall of the City Hall – Iran will also receivewhich was also banned last year, as Tehran has long been criticized for the country’s human rights record.

The Nobel Foundation said the ambassadors of all countries diplomatically represented in Sweden and Norway will be invited to this year’s events in December.

Vindar Helgesen, executive director of the Nobel Foundation, explained the decision, noting that “it is clear that the world is increasingly divided into two spheres, with dialogue between those with different views being limited. To counter this trend, we are now expanding (the list) of our guests to celebrate and understand the Nobel Prize and the importance of free science, free culture and free, peaceful societies.”

The far-right Jimmy Ackerson is invited for the first time

The Nobel Foundation also invited the leader of the far-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats party to the event for the first time, although Jimmy Akerson immediately responded by posting on Facebook: “Unfortunately, I’m busy that day.”

The Foundation has consistently avoided inviting Akerson, even in 2022 when the Sweden Democrats emerged as the second largest party in the parliamentary elections.

To explain its decision the Nobel Foundation stated that it wishes to include even those who do not share the values ​​of the Nobel Prize.

A Swedish MP however commented that this year’s invitees are “completely inappropriate”.

Five out of six Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, while the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, where a separate ceremony is held.