Snowden, Pope Francis and Russian newspaper nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

A Russian newspaper critical of President Vladimir Putin is among the nominations for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize, along with Edward Snowden, Pope Francis and a priest helping African migrants.

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From left: Edward Snowden, Pope Francis and Italian priest Mussie Zerai (who has helped African migrants) are among those tipped for the prestigious prize. The Nobel committee does not publish lists, but Norwegian organisations compile names. Photos: EPA, Reuters, Zerai's Twitter page

Published: 2:15pm, 3 Feb 2015Updated: 5:08pm, 3 Feb 2015

A Russian newspaper critical of President Vladimir Putin is among the nominations for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize, along with Edward Snowden, Pope Francis and a priest helping African migrants.

Although the committee has marked the last four 10-year anniversaries of the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima by honouring the fight against nuclear proliferation, there was little speculation among Nobel watchers that the trend would continue.

Thousands of people, including all members of parliaments, can make nominations, which must be postmarked no later than February 1. The US$1.2 million award will be announced in October.

The Norwegian Nobel Institute does not publish names of nominees, but Norwegian experts compile lists.

Pope Francis has been nominated for stressing social justice and care for the environment.

Former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked details of US electronic surveillance, for showing how citizens are monitored with few democratic controls.

Kristian Berg Harpviken, head of the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, named as his favourite Mussie Zerai, a priest of Eritrean origin living in Italy who has helped some of the thousands of African migrants who have risked their lives to cross the Mediterranean.