Nobel Peace Prize goes to rights advocates from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine

Sweden: Human rights organizations from Ukraine and Russia, as well as rights advocate Ales Bialiatski of Belarus, have won this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

Rights campaigner Ales Bialiatski of Belarus, the Russian human rights organization Memorial and the Ukrainian human rights organization Center for Civil Liberties have won this year's Nobel Peace Prize. 

The Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo made the announcement on Friday.

"The Peace Prize laureates represent civil society in their home countries. They have for many years promoted the right to criticize power and protect the fundamental rights of citizens," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its citation.

"They have made an outstanding effort to document war crimes, human rights 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, said.