( CNN ) -- A Norwegian politician said he has nominated WikiLeaks for a Nobel Peace Prize , citing the website 's contribution to `` democracy and freedom of speech '' worldwide . Nominations for the Peace Prize closed on Tuesday . Any lawmaker , academic or award recipient around the world can nominate anyone for the prize , according to the prize 's website . Stortinget parliamentarian Snorre Valen said he nominated WikiLeaks because it has helped `` redraw the map of information freedom . '' `` Liu Xiabao was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his struggle for human rights , democracy and freedom of speech in China , '' Valen wrote on his blog . `` Likewise , WikiLeaks have contributed to the struggle for those very values globally , by exposing ( among many other things ) corruption , war crimes and torture . '' WikiLeaks is a nonprofit website that publishes documents alleging corporate and government misconduct . Critics have accused it of endangering national security while defenders have said it protects whistle-blowers . The site has published numerous secret documents , including on the Iraq and Afghan war . Military officials have criticized the release of documents . U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he was `` appalled '' by the release of the Afghan War Diary last year .
Lawmaker : WikiLeaks contributes to `` freedom of speech and transparency '' Site has published numerous secret documents on Iraq and Afghan war . Lawmakers , academics around world can nominate anyone for the award .