María Corina Machado will not be present at the Nobel Prize ceremony in Oslo on Wednesday. This is what the director of the Nobel Institute says to the Norwegian broadcaster NRK. Machado was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in October for her commitment to democracy and the people of Venezuela. Last week, the opposition leader announced from her hiding place that she would be present at the ceremony herself.
Yet she did not succeed. “Unfortunately, she is not in Norway now,” Kristian Berg Harpviken, the director of the Nobel Institute, told NRK. “She will not be on stage at Oslo City Hall today at 1 p.m. when the ceremony starts.” According to the Norwegian broadcaster, Machado’s daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, will receive the award.
Machado announced a week before the ceremony that he would travel to Norway, which was confirmed by Harpviken. Machado is said to be supported by Donald Trump in her attempt to leave the country. The American president and Machado are united in their fight against Nicolás Maduro. Machado supports US military activities around Venezuela and dedicated the Nobel Prize to Trump, and to the Venezuelan people.
Once Machado leaves Venezuela, she will be considered a “fugitive,” said Attorney General Tarek William Saab, an ally of Maduro. The opposition leader is accused of “conspiracy and incitement to hatred and terrorism.” It is unknown where Machado is at this time. In addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, prizes for various sciences and literature will also be awarded on Wednesday.
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