WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has filed a criminal complaint with the Nobel Committee over an “instrument of war” peace prize for Venezuelan democracy activist María Corina Machado.
In a December 17 statement, WikiLeaks said that Julian Assange had filed a criminal complaint in Sweden “accusing 30 individuals associated with the Nobel Foundation, including its leadership, of committing serious crimes, including the crime of gross misappropriation of funds, aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity, and financing the crime of aggression.”
Read also | Machad’s daughter accepts Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of mother – Watch
The statement claimed: “The complaint shows that Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will expressly directs that the Peace Prize be awarded to the individual who, during the following year, has ‘done the greatest benefit to mankind’ by ‘doing the ‘greatest or best work for brotherhood among nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the organization and support of peace congresses.'”
Assange argued: “The political decision of the Norwegian selection committee does not suspend the fiduciary duty of the Swedish fund managers”.
“Any disbursement inconsistent with this mandate constitutes embezzlement of the foundation,” the statement said.
“Machado Incited Trump Administration”
Assange also claimed that “Machado continues to encourage the Trump administration to continue its escalation path”, including entering into “a plot to give the US administration access to $1.7 trillion in oil reserves and other natural resources through privatization once Maduro is ousted”.
“Using her elevated position as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Machado was able to tip the balance in favor of the war enabled by the named suspects. Assange alleges in the criminal complaint,” he added.
Notably, the US administration has tightened the screws on Nicolás Maduro’s regime, deploying thousands of troops, several warships and an aircraft carrier to the Caribbean Sea off Venezuela, as well as launching strikes on the boats of alleged drug smugglers that have killed nearly 100 people.
The complaint cites evidence of this “incitement” to US military intervention, as well as the “praise” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza.
Desired action
The complaint states: “There is a real risk that funds raised by the Nobel Endowment have been or will be diverted intentionally or negligently from their charitable purpose to facilitate aggression, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Assange asks the Swedish authorities:
1. To immediately freeze the pending transfer of 11,000,000 SEK in prize money and all remaining related budget and to arrange for the return of the medal.
Read also | Did FIFA break its own rules by giving Trump the Peace Prize? Infantino in trouble
2. Investigate named individuals and officials of the foundation and associated entities for breach of trust, aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity, and conspiracy.
3. Use of board minutes, emails, group chats, financial records.
4. Interrogate Widding, Stjärne and other suspects.
5. Fully investigate domestically or refer the matter to the ICC (Rome Statute Article 25(3)(c)).
“This complaint calls for the immediate freezing of all remaining funds and a full criminal investigation so that the Nobel Peace Prize does not permanently change from an instrument of peace to an instrument of war,” Assange concludes.
