A group of European politicians have asked for an extension of the nomination deadline for the Nobel Peace Prize so that Volodymyr Zelenskyy can be considered for the award.
More than 30 lawmakers wrote to the Nobel Prize Committee to request that they extend the January 31 deadline to the end of March to nominate Mr. Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people.
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“While we are aware that this is a breach of procedure, we believe that it is justified by the current unprecedented situation,” wrote politicians from the Netherlands, Estonia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia in a letter dated March 11.
“From the mutiny of democratically elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the teary-eyed man who says goodbye to his family to fight for his country, people across Ukraine are rising up to resist the forces of authoritarianism Afford.
“Our words of sympathy and support can hardly do justice to the sacrifices they make for the principles of human rights and peace.
“The facade of civilization is razor thin, we are its guardians and we can never rest.”
The call drew mixed reactions from commenters on social media.
Author Mig Greengard said on Twitter it would be “strange” to award the Nobel Peace Prize to a war leader even if he was defending his homeland from an attacker.
Hot Attitude: To award the Nobel Peace Prize to even one nation’s heroic war leader who repels an aggressor would be odd. (They refrained from awarding the prize at all in 1914-16 and 1939-43.) Still, Zelensky’s focus on defending the values of the free world could be a world-changer.
— Mig Greengard (@chessninja) March 18, 2022
“If Zelensky and Ukraine get through this, after leading the free world back to the cause of democracy and freedom against tyranny through massive sacrifices of blood and tears, give them all the credits,” he added.
An account called Socialist Boomer said he was impressed by Zelenskyi’s leadership as he defended his country.
“But the idea that the guy who keeps demanding a no-fly zone aka WW3 deserves the Nobel Peace Prize is insane.”
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, the body that selects the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent whether she would extend the deadline or consider a late nomination.
This year’s Nobel Prize announcements will take place at the beginning of October.
Last year’s recipients were journalist Dmitry Muratov from Russia and Maria Ressa from the Philippines.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/zelensky-nobel-peace-prize-b2039343.html Global calls for Zelenskyy’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize