Nobel Peace Prize 2022 jointly awarded to human rights champions in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia

Nobel Peace Prize 2022 has been awarded to one individual and two organisations. The Norwegian Nobel Committee named human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, Russia's Memorial group and Ukraine's Center for Civil Liberties as the joint winners.

"They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human right abuses and the abuse of power. Together they demonstrate the significance of civil society for peace and democracy", the head of the Norwegian Nobel committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, told reporters.

The committee called for the release of the Belarusian human rights advocate who is currently held in Belarus for tax evasion since 2021.

"Our message is an urge to the authorities in Belarus to release Mr. Bialiatski and we do hope this will happen and that he can come to Oslo and receive the honour bestowed upon him," the head of the Norwegian Nobel committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, told reporters.

The committee insisted that the prizewas not directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"This prize is not addressing President Putin ... except that his government ... is representing an authoritarian government that is suppressing human rights activists," Reiss-Andersen said.

Asserting that its founder Alfred Nobel was "turning in his grave," Belarus criticised the Nobel Committee on Friday for awarding its famous peace prize to activist Ales Bialiatski, who is currently incarcerated.

"In recent years, a number of fundamental decisions of the Nobel Committee are so politicised that, excuse me, Alfred Nobel is tormented and turning in his grave," foreign ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz said on Twitter.

The prize comes with a gold medal, a diploma and a prize sum of 10 million Swedish kronor (about $900,000). The award will be presented at a formal ceremony in Oslo on December 10.

The Nobel season winds up Monday with the Nobel Economics Prize.

(With inputs from agencies)