2012 Nobel Peace Prize choice criticized by Russian activists

The choice of the European Union as the recipient for this year's Nobel Peace Prize has been criticized by rights groups in Russia.

Lyudmila Alexeyeva, the Russian human rights activist, has voiced disappointment over the EU's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize. The 85-year-old woman has stated that it would have been more appropriate for human rights groups who need recognition to get the prize. She elaborated when she explained that she would have been "very glad if the prize was given to political prisoners in Iran or human rights defenders [in Russia in particular], but not the European Union, although I like the European Union." (See video at euronews). Alexeyeva, along with the human rights group Memorial and other Russian human rights activists, were all contenders for the prize. Alexeyeva is a veteran human rights activist who has protested and campaigned against the show trials that were trademarks of the repressive Soviet system of the day. She campaigns to this day, often raising awareness of rights violations in Putin's Russia. She also voiced discontentment over a "trend" in the Nobel committee, pointing out that it gave the prize "to the president of a superpower one year [Barack Obama], and to the European Union another year." She explained she believes this constitutes "a certain erosion of the ideas that is the foundation of this prize." (Finchannel.com)