OSLO, Norway, March 6 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is still a contender for the Nobel Peace Prize despite the recent situation in Ukraine's Crimea region.
Putin was nominated for his work as one of the key figures in the disarmament of Syria's chemical weapons. The agreement halted the U.S. from using possible airstrikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after he used sarin gas to kill thousands of his own people in August.
The nominations were submitted before Russian military action in the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine after the ousting of pro-Russia Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
The Nobel Peace Prize committee says that it bears no responsibility for the pool of nominees. Previous nominees have included Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, and right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh. This year's pool of nominees include NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, former Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning, Pope Francis, and Pakistani education rights activist Malala Yousafzai.
[HuffPost Live]
Read More
- Kerry calls discussions on Ukraine crisis 'constructive'
- Kissinger: Cooperation of factions necessary to resolve Ukraine crisis
- Ukraine PM: Russian military presence in Crimea 'unacceptable'
- Kiev condemns Crimean parliament's resolution to join Russia as "illegal"
- Crimea Parliament sets referendum for secession
