The Russian authorities have told a group of Greenpeace activists and freelance journalists arrested during a protest against oil drilling in the Arctic that they cannot leave the country.
The environmental group said the decision was in defiance of a ruling of an international court, and repeated its demand that the 28 activists and two journalists, including six Britons, should be allowed home.
The so-called Arctic 30 were arrested more than two months ago after the Russian authorities boarded their vessel during their protest.
They have all been granted bail by courts in St Petersburg but have remained in Russia while efforts are made to give them permission to leave.
Greenpeace revealed today that Russia’s Investigative Committee has written to one of the 30 – Anne Mie Jensen from Denmark – indicating that they are not free to leave the country.
Lawyers for Greenpeace said they expect all of the non-Russian defendants will be treated in the same way by the authorities, meaning they would now be forced to stay in St Petersburg for Christmas and possibly well beyond.