Stockholm: The Nobel Foundation has withdrawn its invitation to representatives of Russia, Belarus, and Iran to attend this year's Nobel Prize award ceremonies in Stockholm.

The decision to extend the invitations had provoked strong reactions, leading to several Swedish lawmakers boycotting the event. Critics cited Russia's war on Ukraine and human rights concerns in Iran and Belarus as reasons for their protest.

Belarusian opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the Nobel Foundation's decision, describing it as a sign of solidarity with the Belarusian and Ukrainian peoples. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko also praised the move as a victory for humanism.

The foundation acknowledged the overwhelming negative response to its initial decision and decided not to invite the ambassadors of Russia, Belarus, and Iran to the ceremony in Stockholm where the prizes in Sciences and Literatures are awarded. However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the Nobel Peace Prize, will continue its practice of inviting all ambassadors to the ceremony in Oslo, where the Nobel Peace Prize is presented.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who had opposed the initial decision, expressed his satisfaction with the change and emphasized Sweden's support for Ukraine against Russia's aggression. The Nobel Prize laureates for 2023 will be announced in early October, with the award ceremonies scheduled for December 10th.