Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has filed criminal charges against the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. Assange alleges that the foundation’s decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado constitutes “serious misuse of funds” and “assistance in war crimes”.
Assange is seeking to halt the award of approximately $1.18 million to Machado, citing her support for US military pressure on Venezuela and her stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza as reasons for the controversy. The complaint names 30 individuals associated with the Nobel Foundation, accusing them of fund misuse, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize in October for her role in promoting democratic rights, but Assange claims the award supports US military aggression, violating Nobel’s ideals. The Nobel Foundation has not commented on the allegations.