WIKILEAKS FOUNDER Julian Assange appears to have won over some unlikely support.

As the Nobel Peace Price ceremony gets underway in Norway today without the Chinese laureate, Russia has suggested Assange be considered for the award.

The Guardian reports that a source from Russian President Medvedev’s office said public and non-governmental agencies should think of ways to help Assange, such as a Nobel nomination.

Later Medvedev’s spokesperson said the comment was a joke, but Russian support for Assange was more strongly suggested yesterday, when Prime Minister Vladimir Putin strongly criticised Assange’s detention, the Moscow Times reports.

Putin said: ”If it is full democracy, then why have they hidden Mr. Assange in prison? That’s what, democracy? So, you know, as they say in the countryside, some people’s cows can moo, but yours should keep quiet.”

Assange is currently being held in the UK where he faces extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual assault.

US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks showed embarrassing references to Putin and Medvedev’s relationship as ‘Batman and Robin’, and described Russia as a “mafia state”. They also included a NATO plan to defend Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia against Russia, which led Russian officials to call for NATO clarification.