Oslo, Norway — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado will not attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo on Wednesday, as confirmed by the head of the Norwegian Nobel Institute. Machado, who has not been seen in public for the past 11 months, will have her daughter accept the prestigious award on her behalf.
Kristian Berg Harpviken, the director of the Nobel Institute, shared the news with public broadcaster NRK, stating that Machado is not in the Norwegian capital for the ceremony. Claudia Macero, Machado's spokesperson, expressed optimism about her presence later in the day, although she did not disclose Machado's current location.
The Nobel Institute released an audio recording on its YouTube channel, featuring a phone conversation between Machado and the Institute's director Jørgen Watne Frydnes. In this call, Machado stated that she was en route to Oslo but would not make it in time for the award ceremony. She expressed deep gratitude to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, saying, "On behalf of the Venezuelan people, I want to thank the Norwegian Nobel Committee for this immense recognition of our fight for democracy and freedom." Machado added that she felt emotional and honored, but was saddened by her inability to attend the ceremony.
Just four days prior, Harpviken mentioned that Machado had confirmed her intention to attend the event. However, he cautioned that due to the security situation, specific details about her travel could not be shared. Prominent leaders from Latin America, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, were scheduled to attend the ceremony as a demonstration of solidarity with Machado.
Machado has been living in hiding since January 9, when she was detained for a brief period after participating in a protest in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. The 58-year-old political figure was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her relentless pursuit of a democratic transition in her country, a recognition announced on October 10. She has been described as a beacon of hope, keeping the flame of democracy alive amid escalating oppression.
Despite winning an opposition primary election, Machado was barred from challenging President Nicolás Maduro in the 2022 presidential elections, with retired diplomat Edmundo González taking her place. The lead-up to the upcoming July 28, 2024 election has seen alarming levels of repression, including disqualifications, arrests, and human rights violations. The National Electoral Council, heavily influenced by Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner of the previous election, prompting González to seek asylum in Spain after a Venezuelan court issued an arrest warrant against him.
International concern regarding the human rights situation in Venezuela has been voiced by U.N. human rights officials and various independent rights organizations, calling for accountability for Maduro’s regime in light of the ongoing crackdown on dissent. Notably, five past Nobel Peace Prize laureates have faced detainment or imprisonment around the time of their awards, including Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi in 2023 and Belarusian advocate Ales Bialiatski in 2022.
This year's ceremony marks a pivotal moment for Venezuelan democracy, symbolizing resilience and the continued struggle for freedom amidst adversity.