Greenpeace reacted positively to the news but reaffirmed its belief that the
arrest of the ship was illegal under international law.
Reacting to the news, Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo
said:
“Millions of people spoke out against the illegal imprisonment of the Arctic
30, and today the final member of the group is free to come home. Our ship was
arrested during an entirely peaceful protest against Arctic drilling in
international waters. There was absolutely no justification either for boarding
the ship or keeping her for eight months.
“This whole affair was a brazen attempt to intimidate those who believe that
drilling for oil in the melting Arctic is reckless and unsafe. After months
without proper maintenance our ship will need careful repairs, but like our
campaign to protect the Arctic she will emerge better, fitter and stronger from
this.”
The investigative committee recently extended its investigation into the
protest at the Prirazlomnaya platform by two months, until July 24th. However,
lawyers acting for Greenpeace International were informed of the ship’s release
unexpectedly during a meeting in the port city of Murmansk this morning. The
ship should now be able to leave Russia in the coming days.
Greenpeace lawyers were
also informed that the investigation will continue in order to examine
equipment found on the ship.
"Our main priority now is to get the ship checked by independent surveyors
to assess the level of damage since it was seized by Russian agents on
September 19th. We will also be asking the Russian authorities to continue
guarding the vessel until our crew arrives to take custody of it", said
Daniel Simons, Greenpeace International Legal Counsel.
In the eight months since the action took place Greenpeace has continued to
campaign against Arctic oil drilling across the world, most recently in Norway
last week where activists occupied a Statoil contracted oil rig in the Barents
sea for over 48 hours. Meanwhile Dutch activists blocked a second Gazprom rig,
the GSP Saturn, as it left the Dutch port of IJmuiden to drill in the Russian
Arctic.
Kumi Naidoo, who himself protested at the Prirazlomnaya rig in 2012 continued:
“We will continue to oppose any oil company that attempts to drill in the
Arctic ocean. As the world warms and the ice melts this is fast becoming an era
defining battle, and we are determined to win it.”
ENDS
For more information please contact:
James Turner: james.turner@greenpeace.org +44 7415 515368
Maria Favorskaya in Moscow: mfavorsk@greenpeace.org +79 687358947
NOTES
The Arctic Sunrise was used as a support vessel during a protest at Gazprom’s
Prirazlomnaya platform on September 18th 2013. Two climbers attempted to hang a
small “Save The Arctic” banner on the platform's side before Russian commandos
fired warning shots into the water beneath them and forced them to descend
their ropes. The next day, the Arctic Sunrise was boarded by helicopter and
towed to Murmansk. All 28 activists along with two freelance journalists were
arrested and charged with piracy and then hooliganism. The Arctic 30 were
released on December 27th 2013 following the adoption of an amnesty law in the
Russian Duma.
On 22 November 2013, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ordered
Russia to 'immediately' release the vessel upon the posting of a €3.6 million
bond by the Netherlands. The bond was posted by 2 December.
For details of the 30 activists, including the six Britons, please see: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/arctic-impacts/Peace-Dove/Arctic-30/
For a full timeline of the Arctic 30 story please see: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/From-peaceful-action-to-dramatic-seizure-a-timeline-of-events-since-the-Arctic-Sunrise-took-action-September-18-CET/
