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Russian president Vladimir Putin has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

The nomination will likely raise eyebrows given his country's role as the main supplier of weapons to the Syrian regime and its introduction of a law banning gay propaganda.

The former KGB agent's name was put forward by The International Academy of Spiritual Unity and Cooperation of Peoples of the World, which said he "actively promotes settlement of all conflicts arising on the planet".

It pointed to his efforts to prevent a US military strike on the Syrian regime following a chemical gas attack in August as evidence of this.

His campaign against separatists in Chechyna or the war he waged on Georgia in 2008 were not mentioned, however.

The activist group is on the list of those organisations permitted to make Nobel Peace Prize nominations.

According to the New York Times, the academy's submission to the nomination committee read: "Being the leader of one of the leading nations of the world, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin makes efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity not only on the territory of his own country but also actively promotes settlement of all conflicts arising on the planet.

Russian singer and MP Iosif Kobzon also backed the nomination, comparing Putin with Barack Obama, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.

"Barack Obama is the man who has initiated and approved the United States' aggressive actions in Iraq and Afghanistan," he told Interfax news agency.

"Now he is preparing for an invasion into Syria.

"He bears this title nevertheless.

"Our president, who tries to stop the bloodshed and who tries to help the conflict situation with political dialogue, is more worthy of this high title."

The deadline for 2014 Nobel Peace Prize nominations is in February.

The winner will be announced on October 11.

The prize is given to "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses".