A group of Chinese academics has awarded an alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Organizers of the Confucius Peace Prize said Tuesday that Mr. Putin beat out German Chancellor Angela Merkel and South African President Jacob Zuma for the award.

In comments to the French News Agency, one of the organizers, Qiao Damo, said Mr. Putin was selected for his opposition to NATO's plan to bomb Libya and for appearing to the world in a “peaceful manner.”

The prize was established last year in response to the Nobel Foundation awarding its peace prize to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. It was created by an association overseen by China's Culture Ministry. However, in September the ministry ordered organizers to cancel the award, saying they were not given permission to promote it.

The first Confucius prize was awarded to former Taiwanese Vice President Lien Chan. Lien was unaware of the award and did not show up to claim it.

This year's award will be presented in Beijing December 9, just days before the Nobel peace prize is awarded. It is unclear if Mr. Putin will attend.