Alexander Lukashenko wins Ig Nobel Peace Prize for applause

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has won the so-called Ig Nobel Peace Prize - a parody of the Nobel Prize, which is awarded for "achievements that make one laugh, but then think." Experts reminded the Belarus president of his ban on applause imposed in 2011.

The award winners were announced at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Anti-Nobel, or Ig Nobel Prize, appeared in 1991 through the efforts of Annals of Improbable Research magazine. For the last 14 years, the prize has been awarded in ten categories, including both the categories typical of the Nobel Prize, and those invented by organizers for each ceremony.

The jury of the ceremony pointed out Lukashenka's decree banning public applause after anti-government actions in the country in 2011. A local resident without one hand was once called into account in Belarus for violating the law against applause.

Noteworthy, the list of nominees for the Ig Nobel prize is made by real Nobel laureates and journalists.

The winners also include the scientists, who proved that dung beetles can return home being guided by the stars; psychologists, who found that people consider themselves prettier in a state of alcoholic intoxication.

Pravda.Ru asked expert opinion from political analyst Sergei Mikheyev.

"Frankly, all this mockery seems to me funny in a way. No matter what they say and what jokes they make about Lukashenko, he has been the president of Belarus for many years. For his country, he is quite an effective president.

"He does have his disadvantages, maybe even funny specific peculiarities, but one has to admit that Belarus has been successful in the economy, for example, from the point of view of stable, predictable development.

"They can award as many of such prizes as they want - it will be interesting only for those who like to chuckle when reading news on the Internet. I think that all  these Ig Nobel Prizes and other jokes is simply nothing," said Mikheyev.