Supporters of Julian Assange gather near a London court Tuesday during his bail hearing. A British judge denied Assange bail after the WikiLeaks founder told the court he would fight efforts to extradite him to Sweden to face a sex-crimes investigation. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press)

Russian officials have suggested that WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange should receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

"Public and non-governmental [organizations] should think of how to help him ... Maybe, nominate him as a Nobel Prize laureate," a source from the Kremlin told Russian news agencies Wednesday, according to the Guardian newspaper.

WikiLeaks recently distributed about 250,000 classified U.S. diplomatic cables to select media outlets, revealing embarrassing insights into the affairs of world leaders and, according to opponents, compromising national security.

Guardian correspondent Luke Harding believes Russia's endorsement of Assange was meant as a "calculated" dig at the U.S.

"Russia's reflexively suspicious leadership appears to have come round to WikiLeaks, having decided that the ongoing torrent of disclosures are ultimately far more damaging and disastrous to America's long-term geopolitical interests than they are to Russia's," Harding wrote.

Following Russia's announcement, many Twitterers posted messages saying the WikiLeaks' founder deserves the award.

Ocomar tweeted that Assange is to the U.S. what jailed democratic activist Liu Xiaobo is to China. "[Assange] should be awarded the Nobel Prize too or backed by Amnesty International."

Fellow Twitterer ParsaJr agreed. "The chap has stood up for important rights in the wild western world."

"Mr. Assange has single handedly changed the political face of the world we live in," tweeted Abuisa. "[Surely] the Nobel Peace Prize is in the bag."

What do you think? Does Julian Assange deserve a Nobel Peace Prize? Has WikiLeaks made a positive contribution to the world or has it led to more instability? Let us know in the comments below.

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