Russia backs Assange for Nobel, Oslo applauds Liu
The Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland looks on the empty chair where Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo should sit during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, December 10, 2010. China's rivals welcomed on Friday the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, while some of Beijing's allies questioned what they called the politicisation of the annual award. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Russia, which boycotted the Nobel ceremony on Friday, suggested that the Norwegian Committee should award a peace prize to Julian Assange. In an unusual move, Moscow called upon Rights group to rally support for the whistle-blower.

Public and non-governmental organizations should think of how to help him, a source from President Dmitry Medvedev's office told Russia's RIA Novosti. He added that the groups should encourage the Nobel committee to nominate him as a Nobel Prize laureate.

Kremlin officials also attacked the west that their government provided to media freedom. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as questioned why the British Government on why they hid Assange in a prison. He maintained that the action does not live up to the ideals of Western democracy.

Russia itself came under attack after some leaked diplomatic cables dubbed it as a 'mafia state'. The cables also stated that Putin held the keys to the Government while the President remained his subordinate. Moscow had already asked NATO for an explanation of its secret 'Eagle Guardian' plan which was aimed at strengthening Russia Baltic neighbors and their armed forces.

Meanwhile, snubbing the communist China, the Nobel Prize committee has called for the immediate release of jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. Liu who is currently serving a sentence in Chinese prison was awarded 2010 Peace Prize. He was represented by an empty chair at the ceremony. China earlier condemned the ceremony as a political farce and maintained that they would oppose any one using the Peace Prize to infringe upon the country's legal sovereignty.

Norwegian actress Liv Ullman, read out Liu's famous I have no enemies court address of 2009 at the event, which maintained that Chinese regime deprived him of freedom.

I stand by the belief I expressed 20 years ago in my hunger strike declaration - I have no enemies, and no hatred, Liu said in his speech.

I do not feel guilty for following my constitutional right to freedom of expression, for fulfilling my social responsibility as a Chinese citizen. Even if accused of it, I would have no complaints, he added.

Russia Dmitry Medvedev Court Human rights