"WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has filed a criminal complaint in Sweden against the Nobel Foundation, challenging the organisation's decision to award its Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Assange said this year's awarding of the prize to Machado represented a gross misappropriation of funds and the facilitation of war crimes under Swedish law. He added that he was seeking to freeze 11 million Swedish kronor ($1.18m) from being transferred to her as prize money."
"Assange's criminal complaint, filed on Wednesday, accuses 30 individuals associated with the Nobel Foundation, including the organisation's leadership, of misappropriating funds, facilitating war crimes and crimes against humanity, and financing crimes of aggression. By awarding the prize to Machado, an instrument of peace was converted into an instrument of war, Assange said in the complaint, accusing Machado of inciting and endorsing the commission of international crimes by the United States as it applies military pressure to force Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro to step down."
"Machado's selection for the prestigious honour was not without controversy after drawing criticism for her vocal support for Israel during its ongoing genocidal war in Gaza, including in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after her Nobel win was announced in October. She has pledged to move Venezuela's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem should she take office. Machado has also expressed support for US President Donald Trump's months-long campaign against Venezuela's Maduro, aligning herself with right-wing hawks in his administration."
Julian Assange filed a criminal complaint in Sweden against the Nobel Foundation and 30 associated individuals, accusing them of misappropriating funds, facilitating war crimes and crimes against humanity, and financing crimes of aggression. He seeks to freeze 11 million Swedish kronor in prize money awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. The Nobel Committee awarded Machado the Peace Prize for promoting democratic rights and pursuing a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy. The complaint alleges the award converted an instrument of peace into an instrument of war by endorsing Machado's support for US military pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. Machado has publicly supported Israel during the Gaza war, pledged to move Venezuela's embassy to Jerusalem, and aligned with US efforts against Maduro.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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