A Russian newspaper known for its investigations into corruption and its critical stance toward President Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize.
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, and former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden, who fled to Russia after leaking details of U.S. electronic surveillance, is also on the list.
Kristian Berg Harpviken, head of the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, named Novaya Gazeta as a potential winner of the prize, saying it "would also more widely speak to the issue of media freedom" after the Islamist attack on the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo last month in which 12 people were killed.
Thousands of people, including all members of parliaments, can make nominations, which must be postmarked no later than Feb. 1. The $1.2 million award will be announced in October.
