Two Norwegian lawmakers say they have nominated former NSA contractor Edward Snowden for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize.

Socialist lawmakers Baard Vegard Solhjell, a former environment minister, and Snorre Valen said Wednesday that the public debate and policy changes "in the wake of Snowden's whistle-blowing (have) contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order."

Snowden fled to Russia, where he has requested temporary asylum after leaking classified security documents detailing widespread phone and email surveillance by the National Security Agency. In some cases, the agency shared the data with British, French and other countries' intelligence units. The files also showed that the agency spied on international heads of state, spurring a fierce debate on privacy, sovereignty and security issues.



Snowden has repeatedly asked governing powers to reconsider the balance between privacy and security, and he has demanded that protections for whistle-blowers such as himself be put in place before he might return to the United States.