Background on Key Individuals
Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, filed a complaint against the Nobel Foundation after it awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. Assange claimed that this decision violated Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will, as Machado supports Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela.
María Corina Machado is a prominent Venezuelan opposition politician who has been vocal about her support for democratic transition in Venezuela. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in this area.
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has been involved in Venezuela through military deployment in the Caribbean since August. This action, officially aimed at combating drug trafficking, has resulted in at least 87 deaths.
Assange’s Complaint Details
Assange argued that the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize constitutes a “misappropriation of funds and facilitation of war crimes” according to Swedish law. He also demanded the blocking of Machado’s $1.1 million prize money, fearing that Nobel funds might be diverted to support aggression, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
Swedish Police’s Response
Inspector Rikard Ekman of the Swedish police stated that Assange’s complaint did not provide any evidence suggesting a crime had been committed. Consequently, no investigation will be initiated based on the complaint.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was Assange’s complaint about? Assange claimed that awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado violated Alfred Nobel’s will and could lead to misappropriation of funds intended for charitable purposes.
- Who is María Corina Machado? She is a Venezuelan opposition politician recognized for her efforts in promoting democratic transition in Venezuela.
- Why did Assange demand blocking of the prize money? He feared that the Nobel funds might be diverted to support aggressive actions, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
- What was the Swedish police’s decision? The Swedish police decided not to open an investigation into Assange’s complaint, as it did not indicate any criminal activity.
