Edward Snowden nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

 
Nominated: Edward Snowden
Staff|Agency29 January 2014

Whistleblower Edward Snowden has been nominated to receive the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.

The former US National Security Agency contractor divided opinion by leaking thousands of classified documents revealing the extent to which governments spy on citizens and each other.

Norwegian MP Baard Vegar Solhjell, who nominated him, praised Mr Snowden for making the world safer and more peaceful.

"There is no doubt that the actions of Edward Snowden may have damaged the security interests of several nations in the short term," Solhjell and fellow MP Snorre Valen said in a joint statement.

"We are, however, convinced that the public debate and changes in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden's whistle blowing has contributed to a more peaceful, stable and peaceful world order," they said.

"His actions have in effect led to the reintroduction of trust and transparency as a leading principle in global security policies."

Snowden, living in temporary asylum in Russia after disclosing U.S. government secrets on surveillance programmes and other activities, faces criminal charges in the United States after fleeing last year first to Hong Kong and then Russia.

Thousands of people around the world are eligible to nominate candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize, including any member of any national assembly. There were 259 nominees for last year's prize, which was won by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for its efforts to eliminate Syria's chemical arsenal.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee will collect nominations for the 2014 prize up to Feb. 1 and finalise its list on March 4, when the committee holds its first meeting of the year and members submit their own nominations. The winner will be announced on October 10.

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