Fugitive U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has been named a co-winner of a Swedish human rights award, sometimes referred to as the "alternative Nobel."
The Right Livelihood Award Foundation said in a statement on September 24 that Snowden was honored for "revealing the unprecedented extent of state surveillance violating basic democratic processes and constitutional rights."
The former National Security Agency contractor shared the award with Alan Rusbridger, editor of the British newspaper "Guardian," which has published a series of articles based on documents leaked by Snowden.
They were both named honorary winners, meaning they would not receive an allotment of the prize money.
The $210,000 cash award was shared by Pakistani human right activist Asma Jahangir, Basil Fernando of the Asian Human Rights Commission, and U.S. environmentalist Bill McKibben.
Based on reporting by AP, dpa, and AFP
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