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October 10, 2013

Russia to Bring Drug Charges Against Detained Greenpeace Activists 
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The head of Greenpeace International has offered to exchange his own
freedom for the release of 28 environmentalists and two journalists
facing piracy charges in Russia. The "Arctic 30" were detained in a
Greenpeace direct action against Russia’s first Arctic offshore oil
rig last month. In an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin,
Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naidoo offered to live in Russia as a
guarantor for the activists' release on bail.

Kumi Naidoo: "Given that our activists have been denied bail again
today, I've written to President [Vladimir] Putin seeking an urgent
meeting with him and offering to come to Russia and offering myself as a
guarantor in exchange for the release and bail of the activists and to
stay in Russia as long as the trial takes. I recognize that there is
risk in this given that I had participated in exactly the same action
last year, however — given the urgency that the United Nations has
just called on us to act on climate change and the fact that we're
running out of time — this is a risk that we are prepared to
take."
Russia now says it plans to bring new charges against the detained
activists after claiming to have found illegal drugs and potential
military equipment on board the seized Greenpeace ship.

 

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