World

Russia's Putin Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize

Russian President Vladimir Putin

By Brody Levesque | OSLO, Norway -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has been nominated for consideration for a prestigious Nobel Peace prize by a Russian advocacy group. 

The International Academy of Spiritual Unity and Cooperation of Peoples of the World vice president, Beslan Kobakhiya, cited Mr Putin’s efforts to prevent U.S.-led air strikes against Syria over the deployment of chemical weapons, describing the Russian leader as a “person of the year,” saying that he had proven his commitment to global peace through personal example.

The activist group is on the list of those approved to make Nobel Peace Prize nominations and according to Kobakhiya, the letter of recommendation was received by the Nobel committee last month. 

The letter read in part:

[...] "Being the leader of one of the leading nations of the world, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin makes efforts to maintain peace and tranquility not only on the territory of his own country but also actively promotes settlement of all conflicts arising on the planet."

The Nobel Committee formally does not comment on the names of nominees – or the people who nominated them – for 50 years after the prize is awarded.

Putin has come under fire for his stance on human rights, as a leading Kremlin critic told LGBTQ Nation Friday, pointing out that that no mention had been made of Putin’s ruthless and violent campaign against the separatists in Chechnya or the war he waged on Georgia.
"Also the lack of the Russian leader's empathy for his LGBTQ citizenry as was readily apparent by signing the "draconian national legislation" that bans mention of gay rights issues or public displays of affection, labeling them gay propaganda and harmful to children."

Larry Poltavtsev, the executive director of McLean, Virginia based Spectrum Human Rights Alliance, said as he called Putin's nomination "an affront to basic human dignity."

"Here is a leader who speaks of human rights but allows his government to persecute a sexual minority and he supports such measures as the anti-gay propaganda law.  Then his refusal to let [Russian] orphans be adopted by other nations because gay people might adopt them? It is absurd. 

Then we have the case of deputy of the State Duma Alexei Zhuravlev who wants to take children away from their gay parents? He has not spoken out to stop such bill proposals and this deserves a Nobel Peace prize?"

Russian Duma Deputy [Member of Parliament] Iosif Kobzon backed the Russian leader's  nomination, comparing Putin with Barack Obama, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.

He told the Russian [ language ] Interfax news agency Wednesday:

“Barack Obama is the man who has initiated and approved the United States' aggressive actions in Iraq and Afghanistan - now he is preparing for an invasion into Syria. He bears this title nevertheless. 

Our president, who tries to stop the bloodshed and who tries to help the conflict situation with political dialogue, is more worthy of this high title.”

The Nobel Committee website states that the prize is awarded to the ‘person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.'

The deadline for nominees for 2014 is February next year, and the winner of this year’s prize will be announced on October 11, 2014.