Putin awarded Chinese version of Nobel prize

A GROUP of Chinese academics has awarded its version of the Nobel Peace Prize to Vladimir Putin, pointing to the Russian Prime Minister as “outstanding in keeping world peace”.

Putin beat candidates such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Yuan Longping, a Chinese agricultural scientist, to take the Confucius Peace Prize, said Qiao Damo, one of the organisers.

The prize emerged last year, when it was suddenly announced by the group two days before jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel to Beijing’s anger, sparking speculation it was set up with the government’s guidance.