Vladimir Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

A Russian activist group says he “actively promotes settlement of all conflicts arising on the planet."

Published October 2, 2013 10:23PM (EDT)

Despite Vladimir Putin's heinous campaign against "homosexual propaganda," his role as the main supplier of weapons to Syria's Bashar Assad, his war against Georgia and his KGB past, the Russian president has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

A Russian activist group known as The International Academy of Spiritual Unity and Cooperation of Peoples of the World nominated Putin because he “actively promotes settlement of all conflicts arising on the planet," reported the New York Times.

ThinkProgress explains, however, why the nomination might not mean much:

But while the Putin aficionados have attracted global attention for this nomination, a review of previous nominees and the Nobel Foundation’s nominating process suggests merely being nominated for the prestigious award is not difficult.

Putin’s nomination was filed by Beslan Kobakhiya, head of the Russian-based International Academy of Spiritual Unity and Cooperation of Peoples of the World. Members of his group argued at the press conference that Putin, the many [sic] behind wars in Chechnya and Georgia, was more deserving of the award that [sic] 2009 winner Barack Obama.

Well, at least Dennis Rodman is still off the list.


By Prachi Gupta

Prachi Gupta is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on pop culture. Follow her on Twitter at @prachigu or email her at pgupta@salon.com.

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Human Rights Nobel Peace Prize Russia Vladimir Putin