In a dramatic legal move, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has initiated criminal proceedings against the Nobel Foundation's committee in Sweden. The complaint, filed on December 17, targets the decision to award the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado.
The Core Allegations: Misappropriation and Facilitation of War
Assange's formal complaint accuses 30 individuals linked to the Nobel Foundation, including its leadership, of serious suspected crimes. The charges are grave: gross misappropriation of funds, facilitation of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and financing the crime of aggression.
The legal action hinges on the strict terms of Alfred Nobel's 1895 will. Assange argues the will explicitly mandates that the peace prize must go to a person who, in the preceding year, did the most to promote "fraternity between nations" and work for "the abolition or reduction of standing armies". The complaint asserts that awarding Machado violates this fiduciary duty, turning the prize into an "instrument of war" rather than peace.
Why Machado's Award is Contested
Assange's statement provides a detailed rationale for the complaint. It alleges that María Corina Machado has actively incited the Trump Administration to escalate tensions against Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro government. A key accusation is that she entered into a conspiracy to grant the US access to Venezuela's vast natural resources, including $1.7 trillion in oil reserves, upon Maduro's potential ousting.
"Using her elevated position as the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Machado may well have tipped the balance in favour of war, facilitated by the named suspects," the complaint states. It cites evidence of Machado praising Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's actions in Gaza and encouraging US military intervention. The complaint notes the US has already deployed troops, warships, and an aircraft carrier near Venezuela, conducting strikes that have killed scores.
Assange's Demands to Swedish Authorities
The document calls for urgent action from Swedish law enforcement to prevent the Nobel endowment from being used to support conflict. The specific requests include:
- An immediate freeze on the pending transfer of the SEK 11,000,000 (approximately $1 million) monetary prize and the retrieval of the medal.
- A criminal investigation into the named individuals for breach of trust and conspiracy.
- Seizure of board minutes, emails, financial records, and group chats.
- Interrogation of key suspects like Nobel Foundation officials.
- A full domestic probe or a referral to the International Criminal Court.
"This complaint seeks the immediate freezing of all remaining funds and a full criminal investigation lest the Nobel Peace Prize be permanently converted from an instrument of peace into an instrument of war," Assange concluded.
The case presents a unprecedented challenge to the Nobel Foundation's authority and raises profound questions about the politicisation of the world's most prestigious peace award.
