Activists detained by Russian authorities over a protest against drilling in the Arctic have been jailed for two months.
A group of 30 Greenpeace activists, including six Britons, were held last week when armed Russian officials boarded their vessel the Arctic Sunrise in the Arctic’s Pechora Sea, near to oil company Gazprom’s platform.
The ship and protesters have been taken to the port of Murmansk, and Russian authorities said they were investigating charges of piracy, which carry a jail term of 10 to 15 years, against the
activists.
Two Russians, a Canadian and a Polish activist have been denied bail by a Russian court and jailed for two months pending the investigation. They have not been charged.
It is anticipated all 30 activists will be jailed for two months pending investigations.
Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said: “We are deeply concerned by the decision of the judge to refuse bail, as we await the appearance of the other activists, including six UK nationals.
“Greenpeace and its supporters in the UK will work together to support the activists and their families at this time.”
Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo said: “The Russian authorities are trying to scare people who stand up to the oil industry in the Arctic, but this blatant intimidation will not succeed.
“We are resolute in our commitment to protecting the Arctic environment and the world’s climate. We call on people in Russia and around the world to stand with our activists and defend their right to peaceful protest.”
Russian president Vladimir Putin has said it was “completely obvious” the campaigners were not pirates, but defended the move by the Russian authorities to detain them.
Greenpeace is campaigning against attempts by companies to drill for oil in the waters of the Arctic, warning that a spill would be highly environmentally damaging and extraction of more fossil fuels will add to climate change.
Gazprom’s plans to start drilling from the Prirazlomnaya platform in the first quarter of 2014 raised the risk of an oil spill in an area that contains three nature reserves protected by Russian law, campaigners said.
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