MEXICO CITY, October 8. /TASS/. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced the creation of the peace prize in honor of the country’s former leader Hugo Chavez, and said he awards it to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported on Saturday.

"I've decided to create the Hugo Chavez prize for peace and the sovereignty," Maduro said. "I think President Vladimir Putin deserves this Hugo Chavez award," he noted adding that Putin is a "fighter for peace."

The award will come in the miniature copy of the 6-meter statue of Hugo Chavez created by Russian sculptor Sergey Kazantsev and unveiled earlier today in Sabaneta, Chavez’ birthplace.