CONTINUING UPDATES: From peaceful action to dramatic seizure: a timeline of events since the Arctic Sunrise took action to save the Arctic from oil drilling
Week 15
December 29, 2013
13.50– The 26th and final foreign member of the Arctic 30, activist and Polish national Tomasz Dziemianczuk, has left Russia.
Greenpeace International is calling on the Investigative Committee to facilitate the return of the ship and the personal belongings of the Arctic 30now that the criminal prosecution against the Arctic 30 has been terminated.
Watch video of the Arctic 30 expressing their gratitudeto all those around the world who have shown support for their cause.
December 27, 2013
19.15 – All but one of the 26 non-Russian members of the Arctic 30 have now left Russia and are on their way home.
Twenty-five of the 26 foreigners among the Arctic 30 have left Russia for home. The last activist will leave the country on Sunday.
18.30 – More members of the Arctic 30 arrive at the Saint Petersburg airport for their departure home: Mannes Ubels and Faiza Oulahsen of the Netherlands, together with Brazilian Ana Paula Maciel, Australian Colin Russell, and Gizem Akhan of Turkey.
17.25 – Five members of the Arctic 30 – Iain, Anthony, Kieron, Alex and Phil – have arrived safely back in the UK.
09.00– A plane carryingfive Britons and a Canadian left St Petersburg airport, heading for Paris. On board are Anthony Perrett, Phil Ball, Iain Rogers, Alex Harris, Kieron Bryan and Alexandre Paul.
December 26, 2013
17.30– The Arctic 30 are leaving Russia.Swedish activist Dima Litvinov is on a train and heading for the border.He will enter Finland at 20:30 local time (17:30 GMT).
Fourteen of the Arctic 30 were given exit stamps in their passports today, the rest will be given their stamps tomorrow. The non-Russians will all leave the country in the coming days, many of them tomorrow.
10.35– UK nationalAnthony Perrett was given a visa in his passportfrom the Federal Migration Service allowing him to leave Russia. Anthony is the first of the Arctic 30 to have been given an exit visa.
December 25, 2013
11:30–The Investigative Committee is implementingthe amnesty agreed by the Duma (Russian parliament) that effectively ends legal proceedings against the Arctic 30.
The final chapter in the legal ordeal of the Arctic 30 began as the group was asked to attend a meeting at Russia’s Investigative Committee, where the criminal case against them is being droppeden masse.
They will then have one more hurdle securing exit visas in their passports before the non-Russians are free to leave the country and be reunited with their families. A meeting with the Federal Migration Service is scheduled for later today. The Arctic 30 are expected to leave Russia in the coming days.
Week 14
December 24, 2013
15:15– Anthony Perrett of the UK becamethe first Arctic 30 activist to have the criminal case against him dropped.He has requested an exit visa from the Federal Migration Service to allow him to leave Russia. The migration service told him it will contact him onThursday, 26 Decemberto collect his visa.
In reaction, Anthony said:
“It’s time to go home, its time to get back to Wales, and I just got one big step closer. I took peaceful action to defend a fragile region under profound threat and instead I was seized by armed commandos at sea and spent two months in detention. This is not over yet. The Arctic is melting before our eyes and yet the oil companies are lining up to profit from its destruction. This is why I took action, to expose them and mobilise people to demand Arctic protection. I am proud of what I did.”
Week 14
December 18, 2013
13:15– Russian parliament officially adopts Amnesty bill in 3rd reading.
09.50–The Russian parliament voted for an amendment that extends an amnesty decree to defendants who have been charged with hooliganism.It therefore includes the Arctic 30 – the 28 activists and two freelance journalists who were arrested following a peaceful protest at a Gazprom-operated Arctic oil platform three months ago today.
There will be a final vote at 4pm Moscow time, but the only way the Arctic 30 would be removed from the amnesty is if the entire bill is rejected – an outcome regarded as extremely unlikely.
Assuming the decree is passed at third reading later today, it is unclear when the non-Russians amongst the Arctic 30 will be able to leave the country. At present they do not have the correct stamps in their passports, having been brought to Russia by commandos after being illegally seized in international waters. By accepting the amnesty they will not be admitting guilt, but the legal proceedings against them will come to an end.
The fate of the Arctic Sunrise, currently impounded in Murmansk, remains uncertain, despite the order of an international court that it be released following a case brought by the Dutch government.
Week 13
December 13, 2013
10.00–The Russian authorities have told the Arctic 30 that they cannot leave the country, defying the ruling of an international court which ordered that they should be allowed to go home immediately.
A ruling in November by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)ordered Russia to allow the Arctic 30 to leave the country immediately and to release the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, as soon as a bond of 3.6m euros in the form of a bank guarantee was paid. That bond was posted by the Government of the Netherlands – where the Arctic Sunrise is registered – on 29th November. Russia is now in defiance of that order.
December 11, 2013
11.30–Lawyers for Greenpeace International believethe draft text of a Russian amnesty to be voted on by the Duma (the Russian parliament) would be unlikely to benefit the Arctic 30.
In its present form, the proposal would apply only to people who have either been convicted of hooliganism, or people who are on trial and will be convicted within the six month period after the amnesty decree is adopted.
The Arctic 30 fall into neither category, but could be granted amnesty if the text is only slightly amended.
Greenpeace International lawyer Daniel Simons said:
As it stands the amnesty text would not include the Arctic 30, but it very nearly does. The Duma would only have to make a relatively minor amendment to the text and include people charged with hooliganism whose trial has not yet been scheduled. Then the Arctic 30 could go home. Right now they still face the possibility of trial and conviction for a crime they didnt commit, and prison sentences that could stretch to many years. The charges against them should of course be dropped, but if the Arctic 30 case can be brought to an end through the amnesty then that would be a welcome development for people who have already spent two months in jail for standing up for their beliefs.”
Week 12
December 04, 2013
14.00–Lawyers for the Arctic 30 have started to lodge applicationswith the Investigative Committee seeking exit visas for the non-Russian nationals. If the applications are approved, the foreign nationals would be allowed to leave Russia to await the ongoing investigations into their peaceful Arctic oil protest.
All of the foreign nationals, 26 people from 17 nations, have had their passports returned to them after their release on bail from detention last month. However, they do not have the correct visa allowing them to leave Russia and are currently staying at a hotel in St Petersburg.
Separate applications for exit visas will need to be made for all of the non-Russian nationals in coming days and formally, the Investigative Committee must respond to the request within three days.
Week 11
November 29, 2013
19.00–The Dutch Foreign Ministry has finalised a bank guarantee of 3.6 million eurosin compliance with a binding ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) ordering Russia to release the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise and the Arctic 30.
Jasper Teulings, General Counsel at Greenpeace International, said:
“The Netherlands has now fulfilled its part of the Tribunal’s binding order and Russia is obligated to also comply by releasing the ship and the Arctic 30, as the Tribunal so ordered. The Tribunal has ordered both Russia and the Netherlands to report back on progress with their compliance byDecember 2. We at Greenpeace assume the Russian Federation will comply with the order.
“Greenpeace International will cover the costs associated with the issuing of the bank guarantee and will make sure that Dutch taxpayers are not affected by the Tribunal’s order. Similarly, Greenpeace will compensate the Dutch government if the arbitral tribunal orders the Netherlands at a later date to pay reparations to Russia.”
13.00– Colin Russell has been been released from the detention center in St. Petersburg.
November 28, 2013
11.08– Colin Russell from Australia is the last one among the Arctic30 to be granted bail.
November 25, 2013
11.15– Phil Ball of the UK has been been released from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
November 22, 2013
16.15– The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) today ordered the Russian Federation in a binding ruling to release the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise and the 28 activists and two freelance journalists on board upon payment of a EUR 3.6 million bond.
Russia is now under an obligation to comply with the order: the Russian Constitution itself states that international law forms an integral part of the Russian legal system and Russian courts are under an obligation to implement the order. Greenpeace therefore expects Russia to respect UNCLOS and the Tribunal, as it has done in the past.
The complete text of the ruling can be foundhere.
15.45– Roman Dolgov of Russia and Dimitri Litvinov of Sweden have been been released from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
14.25– Gizem Akhan of Turkey and Canadian Alexandre Paul have been released from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
14.10– Ruslan Yakushev of Russia has been been released from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
13.30-Philip Ball has been granted bail in Kalininsky District Court.
13.25– Iain Rogers and Frank Hewetson both of the UK and Jonathan Beauchamp of New Zealand have been released from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
13.00- Alexandra Harris of the UK has been been released from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
12.10– Miguel Hernan Perez Orzi of Argentina has been released from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
11.35– Dima Litvinov has been granted bail in Kalininsky District Court.
11.00 –Kieron Bryan of the UK, Paul Ruzycki of Canada, and Mannes Ubels of The Netherlands have been released from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
09.50– American Captain Peter Willcox and Faiza Oulahsen from The Netherlands have been released from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
09.30– Russian Roman Dolgov has been granted bail in Kalininsky District Court.
09.15– Anthony Perrett of the UK and Marco Weber from Switzerland have been released from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
November 21, 2013
15.30– Tomasz Dziemianczuk of Poland and Camila Speziale of Argentina have been released on bail from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
15.15– Sini Saarela of Finland and Anne Mie Roer Jensen of Denmark have been released on bail from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
15.00– Cristian D’Alessandro of Italy has been released on bail from detention centre in St. Petersburg.
14.45– Francesco Pisanu of France has been released on bail from detention centre in St. Petersburg.
14.00– The Murmansk Regional Court has todayrejected an appeal against the arrest of the shipArctic Sunriseby Russian authorities.
“This is an extremely disappointing ruling. We believe this verdict is in violation of both the Russian Criminal Procedure Code and international law. Cassation procedures are now available under Russian law,” said Gerrit-Jan Bolderman, Director of Stichting Phoenix, the ships owner.
Besides the possibility of a further appeal at a cassation court by Stichting Phoenix, the lawyer representing Peter Willcox, the captain of the Arctic Sunrise who was granted bail by a St Petersburg courton Wednesday, will in the coming days file a petition seeking the release of the ship.
13.00– Court hearings in St Petersburg now over for today. 26 of 30 now granted bail and 5 of those are out of jail.
12.55– Gizen Akhan of Turkey has been granted bail in Primorsky District Court.
12.45– David John Haussmann of New Zealand has been released on bail from detention centre in St. Petersburg.
11.45– Iain Rogers and Frank Hewetson both of the UK have been granted bail in Kalininsky District Court
11.20– Canadian Alexandre Paul has been granted bail in Primorsky District Court
10.15– Ruslan Yakushev of the Ukraine has been granted bail in Primorsky District Court.
09.45– Ekaterina Zaspa of Russia has been released on bail from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
09.15-Jonathan Beauchamp of New Zealand has been granted bail in Kalininsky District Court.
08.40– Andrey Allakhverdov and Denis Sinyakov both of Russia have been released on bail from the detention centre in St. Petersburg.
Watch the moment they were reunited with their familieshere.
November 20, 2013
18.40– Marco Weber of Switzerland has been granted bail in Kalininsky District Court.
17.20– Greenpeace International activistAna Paula Alminhana Maciel of Brazil has today been released from detention, the first of the Arctic 30 to leave prison following the granting of bail by a St Petersburg court.
The Primorsky court in St Petersburg granted bail to Ana Paula, a biologist, on Tuesday pending the payment of 2 million ruble bail. She has now left the detention centre, but the conditions of her bail are not yet fully known.
16.40– Anthony Perrett of the UK has been granted bail in Kalininsky District Court.
15.40– Anne Mie Roer Jensen of Denmark has been granted bail in Primorsky District Court.
13.45– Mannes Ubels of The Netherlands andKieron Bryan from the UK have been granted bail in Primorsky District Court.
12.32– American Captain Peter Willcox has been granted bail in Kalininsky District Court.
12.30–Greenpeace International today said it has already posted bail for nine of the Arctic 30, but does not expect them to be released before the weekend. Lawyers say they are making bail payments – set at 2 million rubles (45,000 euros) for each detainee – as quickly as they can.
Lawyers for Greenpeace today said there are a number of bureaucratic issues to resolve before any of the Arctic 30 are released from jail and they do not expect any of them to be out of prison until the weekend, possibly later. It is still not clear whether their movements will then be restricted. None of them have passports after they were confiscated following the seizing of their ship Arctic Sunrise by Russian security forces.
Greenpeace cautioned that the detainees will not be free until they are home with their families. They are still charged with at least one very serious offence and if convicted could face years in prison.
The Australian ambassador to Russia today announced that he is visiting the Foreign Ministry in Moscow in an effort to find out why Greenpeace International activist Colin Russell was this week refused bail and ordered to return to jail for three months.
12.00– Alexandra Harris of the UK has been granted bail in Primorsky District Court.
11.30– Faiza Oulahsen of The Netherlands has been granted bail in Primorskiy District Court.
A live broadcast of the court hearings in St Petersburg can be seenhere.
16.30– Sini Saarela of Finland and Francesco Pisanu of France are to be released on bail says court in St Petersburg.
14.45-Cristian D’Alessandro of Italy is to be released on bail says court in St Petersburg.
14.30–The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) will deliver its Order in The “Arctic Sunrise” Case(Kingdom of the Netherlands v. Russian Federation) on Friday 22 November 2013. Judge Shunji Yanai, President of the Tribunal, will read the Order at a public sitting which will be held at 15.00CET
14.15– Canadian Paul Ruzycki is to be released on bail says court in St Petersburg.
13.45– Camila Speziale of Argentina is to be released on bail says court in St Petersburg.
12.45– Tomasz Dziemianczuk of Poland is to be released on bail says court in St Petersburg.
11.50– Argentinian Miguel Hernan Perez Orsi is to be released on bail says court in St Petersburg.
11.30– David John Haussmann of New Zealand is to be released on bail says court in St Petersburg.
Commenting on the development in the Primorskiy District Court, Kumi Naidoo of Greenpeace said:
“In the space of two mornings we have had good news and bad, and the good news comes with a warning. We still have no idea what conditions our friends will endure when they are released from jail, whether they will be held under house arrest or even allowed outside. What we do know for certain is that they are still charged and could spend years behind bars if they are convicted for a crime they did not commit. And we remain baffled and heartbroken that our colleague Colin was refused bail and sent back to prison for three months. The Arctic 30 will not be free until every last one of them is back home with their families.”
10.30-Brazilian Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel is to be released on bail says court in St Petersburg. She is the first non-Russian to be set free on bail.
A live broadcast of the court hearings in St Petersburg can be seenhere.
November 18, 2013
21.00– Russian Andrey Allakhverdov is to be released on bail says court in St Petersburg. He is the third of the Arctic 30 to be free on bail.
19.00– Russian freelance photographer Denis Sinyakov is to be released on bail says court in St Petersburg. He is the second of the Arctic 30 to be free on bail.
15.50–The prosecutor in Ekaterina Zaspa’s hearing did not oppose bail and the judge agreed.In the same city on the same day in hearings relating to the same peaceful protest, a different prosecutor and a different judge ruled that Colin Russell from Australia should be jailed for a further three months.
15.50–The prosecutor in Ekaterina Zaspa’s hearing did not oppose bail and the judge agreed.In the same city on the same day in hearings relating to the same peaceful protest, a different prosecutor and a different judge ruled that Colin Russell from Australia should be jailed for a further three months.
Lawyers for the detainees will now appeal decisions to extend detention, and will apply for bail for all detainees whose detention is extended.
Prosecutors in court are not seeking extension of detention for piracy the original charge brought against the 30. However, formal withdrawal of the piracy charge requires a written statement. Lawyers for the detainees have petitioned for such a statement but it has not been given indicating that this is a policy decision and not an oversight by the authorities.
Activists in court today are Ana Paula Maciel (Brazil); Colin Russell (Australia); David John Haussmann (New Zealand); Ekaterina Zaspa (Russia); and Andrey Allakhverdov (Russia). Freelance journalists Kieron Bryan (UK) and Denis Sinyakov (Russia) are also appearing in court.
14.45– Russian Ekaterina Zaspa to be released on bail says court in St Petersburg.
11.30–The court in St Petersburg has ruledthat Australian Colin Russell must remain in jail until February 24 while the investigation continues. A request for bail or house arrest was denied.
09.00– Hearing on prolongment of pre-trial detention has started in Kalininsky District Court for Ekatarina Zaspa, Colin Russell and Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel
November 16, 2013
Thousands of people take part in peaceful protests in 263 cities in 43 countriesto express their solidarity with the 30 people who were detained on a Greenpeace International ship by armed Russian security forces and imprisoned.
A map showing the global activities ishere.
The ‘Two Months of Injustice’ Global Day of Solidarity photo set can be seenhere.
November 15, 2013
14.25–Russia’s Investigative Committee announced that it will apply for a three-month extension to the detention of the Arctic 30. They will make the applications in front of a judge at hearings next week.
Applications to keep the thirty in jail have only been filed for some of them so far six extension requests have been filed today with the Kalininskiy District Court, with more possible later today and a further nine expected to follow on Monday.
Greenpeace lawyers have been told the Investigative Committee is applying to keep the detainees in prison for a further three months while they investigate their alleged crimes. The Committee needs to apply to a court to have its application upheld. If it is not upheld by a judge, the 30 will be released.
November 13, 2013
17.00– Roman Dolgov and Denis Sinyakov have been moved to SIZO 1 in St Petersburg.
Alexandre Paul has been moved to SIZO 4 in St Petersburg.
Ekaterina Zaspa has been moved to SIZO 5 in St Petersburg.
15.00– Anthony Perrett has been moved to SIZO 1 in St Petersburg.
Ruslan Yakushev has been moved to SIZO 4 in St Petersburg.
13.30– Mannes Ubels has been moved to SIZO 4 in St Petersburg.
Faiza Oulahsen has been moved to SIZO 5 in St Petersburg.
12.30– Tomasz Dziemianczuk has been moved to SIZO 1 in St Petersburg.
Miguel Hernan Perez Orsi has been moved to SIZO 4 in St Petersburg.
Camila Speziale has been moved to SIZO 5 in St Petersburg.
10.00– Iain Rogers, Francesco Pisanu and Marco Weber have been moved to SIZO 1 in St Petersburg.
Gizem Akhan has been moved to SIZO 5 in St Petersburg.
November 12, 2013
18.30– St Petersburg Prison Service confirms arrival of the Arctic 30 in city detention centers:
Peter Willcox, Dima Litvinov, Andrey Allakhverdov, Frank Hewetson,Jonathan D. Beauchamp, Cristian D’Alessandro andPhilip Edward Ball have been moved to SIZO 1 in St Petersburg.
Kieron Bryan, Paul D. Ruzycki, Colin Keith Russel andDavid John Haussmann have been moved to SIZO 4 in St Petersburg.
Alexandra Hazel Harris, Anne Mie Roer Jensen,Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel and Sini Saarela have been moved to SIZO 5 in St Petersburg.
November 08, 2013
15.00–Greenpeace International today released previously unseen footagetaken during the boarding and seizure of the ship Arctic Sunrise by armed Russian security officers following a peaceful Arctic oil protest.
November 07, 2013
14.00– A full transcript of the public sitting of theArctic Sunrisecase (Kingdom of the Netherlands v. Russian Federation), held on November 6th, 2013 at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is availablehere.
November 01, 2013
16.00–According to diplomatic sources,the thirty men and women detained by Russia following a peaceful protest against an Arctic oil platform are being moved from a detention centre in Murmansk to a jail in St Petersburg.
Lawyers for Greenpeace are not aware of the reasons for the move. Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo said:
“The detainees shouldn’t be in jail at all. They should be free to join their families and restart their lives. St Petersburg has some daylight in the winter months, unlike Murmansk. Families and consular officials will now find it easier to visit the thirty. But there is no guarantee that conditions inside the new detention centre will be any better than in Murmansk. In fact, they could be worse. There is no justification whatsoever to keep the Arctic 30 in any prison for a day longer. They are prisoners of conscience who acted out of a determination to protect us all, and they should be free.”
10.30– Prosecuting authorities in Russia were under fire today after it was revealed that they havefailed to lift charges of piracy against the Arctic 30, despite pledging to do so.
October 31, 2013
14.45–Faiza Oulahsenof The Netherlands has been presented with hooliganism charges by Russia’s Investigative Committee.
14.15– Russia’s Investigative Committee has chargedJonathan Beauchampof New Zealand,Francesco Pisanuof France, and CanadianPaul Ruzyckiwith hooliganism.
October 30, 2013
20.30– ActivistMarco Weberof Switzerland has been charged with hooliganism by Russia’s Investigative Committee.
18.15–Alexandra Harrisof UK andSini Saarelaof Finland have been charged with hooliganism by Russia’s Investigative Committee.
17.00–Tomasz Dziemianczukof Poland has been charged with hooliganism by Russia’s Investigative Committee.
15.30–Cristian D’Alessandroof Italy has been presented with hooliganism charges by Russia’s Investigative Committee.
10.30–David Haussmannof New Zealand andColin Russellof Australia have been presented with hooliganism charges by Russia’s Investigative Committee.
October 29, 2013
17.30–Dima Litvinovhas been presented with hooliganism charges by Russia’s Investigative Committee.
13.40– Russian freelance photographerDenis Sinyakovand Greenpeace International activistAnthony Perretthave been presented with hooliganism charges by Russia’s Investigative Committee.
12.00–Russian Federation Council member Vadim Tyulpanov appeals to the Prosecutor General’s Officeto consider releasing the Russian photographer who was arrested during last month’s Greenpeace protest in the Arctic, saying the journalist shouldn’t be in jail for doing his job.
Tyulpanov wrote in a letter to Prosecutor General Yury Chaika:
“By means of their profession, journalists are required to be in the thick of events.
It is this kind of dedication that allows us to receive timely information from all parts of the world.”
October 28, 2013
19.15– UK Prime minister, David Cameron,says he’s prepared to go to Russian presidentVladimir Putin directlyif it would help six Britons detained after Greenpeace protest.
18.00– UKfreelance videographerKieron Bryanand Greenpeace International activistsPhilip Ball,Iain Rogers,Ruslan Yakushev,Frank Hewetson,Pete Willcox,Alexandra Harris, andMiguel Hernan Perez Orsihave been presented with hooliganism charges by Russia’s Investigative Committee.
October 25, 2013
18.00– Greenpeace International activistsGizem AkhanandEkaterina Zaspahave been presented with hooliganism charges by Russia’s Investigative Committee.
17.00– The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), based in the German city of Hamburg, says thata public hearing on theArctic Sunrisecase will be held on Nov. 6th at 10:00 CET. A ruling is expected a few weeks later.
October 24, 2013
17:20–Russian authorities today formally charged a Greenpeace International activist with hooliganism, a crime that carries a maximum seven year jail term and has been described by the European Parliament as a threat to freedom of expression and demonstration.
Andrey Allakhverdov (Russia) was charged with hooliganism under article 213, part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code. Russian authorities have also started charging other members of the Arctic 30, who include 28 Greenpeace International activists plus a freelance videographer and a freelance photographer, with hooliganism.
In response, Ben Ayliffe at Greenpeace International said:
“The Arctic 30 are innocent of all charges. There can be no justification for locking them up in a cell in Murmansk. This was an entirely peaceful protest in international waters to shine a light on Gazprom’s reckless Arctic oil drilling plans. Eleven warning shots were fired across the Arctic Sunrise, bullets were fired into the water next to the protesters, they were threatened with guns and knives and detained on trumped up charges to defend Gazproms oil interests. Who are the real hooligans here?
13.10– The Regional Court of Murmansk has rejected the appeal to release
Ruslan Yakushevfrom Ukraine on bail.Video
12.25– The appeal to release Brazilian crew memberAna Paula Alminhana Macielon bail was rejected by the Murmansk Regional Court.Video
10.40– The appeal to release Canadian crew memberPaul D. Ruzyckion bail was rejected by the Murmansk Regional Court.Video
October 23, 2013
19.20–Greenpeace International respondsto reports that piracy charges against the Arctic 30 alleged by the Investigative Committee are to be dropped and replaced with charges of hooliganism.
Vladimir Chuprov of Greenpeace Russia said:
“We will contest the trumped up charge of hooliganism as strongly as we contested the piracy allegations. They are both fantasy charges that bear no relation to reality. The Arctic 30 protested peacefully against Gazprom’s dangerous oil drilling and should be free.”
19.00–The European Union adds its weight to the growing number of voicesfrom around the world who have expressed concern over the fate of twenty-eight Greenpeace International activists and two freelance journalists who are being detained in Russia on serious charges.
European commissioner Janez Potonik, said:
“While our immediate preoccupation is the continuing detention and the manifestly disproportionate charges brought against those detained, we should not lose from sight the issue that they were attracting attention to. It is one that we should all take very seriously – how to ensure that economic activities in the Arctic do not endanger the region’s fragile environment.”
19.20–Greenpeace International respondsto reports that piracy charges against the Arctic 30 alleged by the Investigative Committee are to be dropped and replaced with charges of hooliganism.
Vladimir Chuprov of Greenpeace Russia said:
“We will contest the trumped up charge of hooliganism as strongly as we contested the piracy allegations. They are both fantasy charges that bear no relation to reality. The Arctic 30 protested peacefully against Gazprom’s dangerous oil drilling and should be free.”
19.00–The European Union adds its weight to the growing number of voicesfrom around the world who have expressed concern over the fate of twenty-eight Greenpeace International activists and two freelance journalists who are being detained in Russia on serious charges.
European commissioner Janez Potonik, said:
“While our immediate preoccupation is the continuing detention and the manifestly disproportionate charges brought against those detained, we should not lose from sight the issue that they were attracting attention to. It is one that we should all take very seriously – how to ensure that economic activities in the Arctic do not endanger the region’s fragile environment.”
14.45– The Regional Court of Murmansk has rejected the appeal to release
Dimitri Litvinov(SE/US) on bail.
14.15– Regional Court of Murmansk rejects the appeal to releaseMiguel Hernan Perez Orsiof Argentina on bail.
10.30– The Russian Foreign Ministry announced thatit will not accept an international arbitration processat which the Netherlands is seeking the release of the Greenpeace International ship Arctic Sunrise and its crew.
It also said it plans not to attend the hearing at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The Ministry did, however, say today that “at the same time Russia remains open to settling the situation”.
Greenpeace International Legal Counsel, Daniel Simons said:
“It seems the Russian authorities don’t welcome the prospect of the lawfulness of their actions being assessed by an independent tribunal.”
October 22, 2013
17.00-The Regional Court of Murmansk has rejected the appeal to releaseIain Christopher Rogers(UK) on bail.
Week 5
October 21, 2013
16.00 –The Dutch Government asks the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seato order Russia to release the Arctic 30 and the Arctic Sunrise.The Tribunal published the Dutch application, including astatement of facts from Greenpeace International.
14.30 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistTomasz Dziemianczukon bail isrejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
13.45 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistMarco Weberon bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
12.00 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistSini Saarelaon bail isrejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
October 18, 2013
More than 100 events are held in 36 countries involving nearly 10,000people across the globe to show their solidarity with the Arctic 30 and to defend the right to peaceful protest.
17.15 –1,500,000 #SavetheArctic30 letters of support are sent to Russian embassies around the world.
15.45 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistAnne Mie Roer Jensenon bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
15.30 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistFaiza Oulahsenon bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
13.00 –CCTV Footage of six masked men breaking into the groundsof the Greenpeace office in Murmansk is released.
12.00 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistAlexandra Harrison bail is rejectedby the Regional Court of Murmansk.
11.00 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistAlexandre Paulon bail is rejectedby the Regional Court of Murmansk.
October 17, 2013
14.45 –Greenpeace International activistMiguel Hernan Perez Orsis bail hearing is postponed until next week due to the lack of a Spanish translator.
13.00 –Daniel Beltr, second place winner of Wildlife Photojournalist of the Year by the Natural History Museum in London, dedicates his award to theArctic 30.
11.30 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistColin Russellon bail is rejected by theRegional Court of Murmansk.
11.00 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistMannes Ubelson bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
08.30 –A joint letter by 11 Nobel Peace Prize laureatesto Russian President Vladimir Putin offering their support to the Arctic 30 is made public.
October 16, 2013
16.00 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistFranceso Pisanuon bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
15.20 –An open letter by Gizems Mother,Tlay Akhan, is part of alarger plea by the Madres de Plaza de Mayo(The Mothers of the Disappeared) for the release of her daughter and the Arctic 30.
15.00 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistAnthony Perretton bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
14.40 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistGizem Akhanon bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
14.36 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistJon Beauchampon bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
09.30 –Greenpeace activistGizem Akhan‘s bail hearing postponed till 14:00 local time, as authorities brought the wrong person to court.
08.30 –Archbishop Desmond Tutuadds his voice to the global choircalling for the release of the Arctic 30.
October 15, 2013
12.48 –Greenpeace International respondsto the refusal of bail for Greenpeace activist Frank Hewetson.
Nina Gold, wife of detainee Frank Hewetson, said:
Frank has now spent three weeks locked up thousands of miles away from his family. He is accused of an absurd crime which clearly none of the Arctic 30 are guilty of committing. The only thing he is guilty of is participating in an entirely peaceful protest to raise awareness of a cause that he passionately believes in – protecting the planet and the fragile wilderness of the Arctic. He has two teenage children back home who miss him terribly, and not knowing when well be able to see him again is agony.
12.00 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activist Frank Hewetson on bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
11.00 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activist Marco Weber on bail is delayed 6 days by the Regional Court of Murmansk due to a German translator not being available.
October 14, 2013
16.30 –The appeal to release New Zealand crew member John David Haussmann on bail is rejected.
15.30 –Greenpeace International respondsto the refusal of bail of Arctic Sunrise captain Peter Willcox and one other activist.
Commenting on the latest developments Peter Willcoxs wife, Maggy Willcox, said:
“Most people try to do at least something for the greater good, sometimes occasionally, sometimes for sustained periods. Rarely do people devote their entire life trying to make the world a better place. Peter is one of those rare people. He is a hero not a pirate. I appeal to the common sense and conscience of the Russian authorities to let my husband and the rest of the people from the Arctic Sunrise come home.”
15.00 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activistPete Willcoxon bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
13.45 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activist Camila Speziale on bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
October 13, 2013
14.30 –Greenpeace International Executive Director, Kumi Naidoo, holds a press conference about the Arctic 30 in Reykjavik, Iceland as part of the Arctic Circle Conference:
I put it to this conference that … the two journalists and 28 activists that are imprisoned in Murmansk were acting in the best interests of all of humanity, and I wanted to ask this conference to agree with President Putin and myself when we say that these activists are not pirates, that they were acting in the public interest, and that they should be released immediately.
06.00 –Greenpeace activists from Italy and Eastern Europe protest at the Barcolana Autumn Cup Regatta in Trieste against the competition’s main sponsor, Gazprom.
October 11, 2013
13.47 –President Putins human rights advisor urges prosecutorsto drop the piracy charges:
These charges are laughable because there isnt the slightest justification for accusing the crew of the Arctic Sunrise of piracy, Mikhail Fedotov said in an interview in Moscow.
13.00 –Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo commentson the latest developments in Murmansk:
Those 30 brave men and women are in jail on trumped up charges, they are prisoners of conscience. They are there not because of what they did but because of what they represent. They are there not because of Russian law but because they made a stand against vested interests. Greenpeace does not think it is above the law, but those campaigners are not pirates, even President Putin says so, and every day they remain behind bars is an affront to the basic principles of justice.
10.20 –The appeal to release freelance videographer Kieron Bryan on bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
You can view the videohere.
10.00 –Protests are held outside of the Albertina Museum in Vienna where an exhibition of the Gazprom Collection is being shown.
09.20 –The appeal to release Greenpeace International activist Phil Ball on bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
October 09, 2013
17.00 –Greenpeace International respondsto claims by Russias Investigative Committee that the Arctic 30 activists endangered the safety of Russian security officers by ramming their dinghy:
Greenpeace International has today published a slow motion video of an incident in which a Greenpeace boat comes to assist another one being harassed by armed security forces.
15.00 –Greenpeace International respondsto allegations made by the Russian Investigative Committee that narcotics were found on board the Arctic Sunrise:
Before leaving Norway for the Russian Arctic, the ship was searched with a sniffer dog by the Norwegian authorities, as is standard. The laws in Norway are amongst the strictest in the world, and nothing was found because nothing illegal was on the ship.
October 08, 2013
16.30 –Greenpeace International Executive Director, Kumi Naidoo, reactsto Greenpeace International activists and a freelance photographer being denied bail by the the Regional Court of Murmansk.
16.15– The appeal to release activist Andrey Allakhverdov on bail is rejected by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
14.30 –The appeal to release freelance photographer Denis Sinyakov on bail refused by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
14.09 –18 pages of signatures of Russian journalists requesting the immediate release of Denis Sinyakov handed to the judge.
13.01 –The appeal to release crew member Ekaterina Zaspa on bail refused by the Regional Court of Murmansk.
October 07, 2013
Greenpeace International reveals that it intends to file a criminal complaint with the police over the illegal seizure of its ship the Arctic Sunrise. The lawyers of the 30 detainees are filing complaints over the violations of the rights of the 30 detainees to the relevant authorities.
14.30–A video from the interrogation of Captain Peter Willcoxby the Investigative Committee on the Arctic Sunrise on Friday September 28 is released.
12.00 –A Greenpeace press conference is held in Murmansk to discuss the detention conditions and legal status of the Arctic 30. It can be viewedhere.
October 05, 2013
A global Emergency Day of Solidarity to free the Arctic 30 (#freethearctic30). Thousands of people engaging in 220 solidarity events in 48 countries.
You can view the slideshow of events across the globehere.
October 04, 2013
17.00 –Executive Director Kumi Naidoo broadcast a live conversation about the Arctic 30 and the future of the Arctic on Google Hangout. If you missed it, you can watch it here:http://bit.ly/1dZofVb
14.40– The Dutch government todayannounced that it would initiate arbitration proceedings against Russiaunder the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea to secure the release of 28 Greenpeace International activists, plus a freelance photographer and a freelance videographer, currently being detained in Russia on piracy charges.
In response, Greenpeace Internationals General Counsel Jasper Teulings said:
“Greenpeace International applauds the Dutch government decision as flag state of the Arctic Sunrise in taking the necessary legal steps to gain the release of the Arctic Sunrise and the Arctic 30, who are being unjustly held. The Netherlands is taking a strong stance in support of the rule of law and the right to peacefully protest. Russian officials will now be called to explain their actions before an international court of law, where it will be unable to justify these absurd piracy allegations.”
October 03, 2013
15.10– All 30 appeals against the refusal of setting bail for activists and crew has now been filed. We still do not know when the appeal cases will be held but we dont expect them to happen this week.
14.30– Crew members Miguel Hernan Perez Orzi from Argentina, Francesco Pisanu from France,Alexandre Paul from Canada,David John Haussmann from New Zealand, andCristian D’Alessandro from Italy are officially charged with piracy.
14.15– Crew members Colin Russell from Australia and Andrey Allakhverdov from Russia are officially charged with piracy.
12.00– Freelance photographer Denis Sinyakov from Russia is officially charged with piracy.
11.00– Crew member Jonathan Beauchamp from New Zealand is officially charged with piracy.
10.00– Crew member Anne Mie Roer Jensen from Denmark is officially charged with piracy.
09.00– All 16 detainees who did not receive indictment yesterday appear to have been taken to the Investigative Committee.
October 02, 2013
14.50-UK activists Alexandra Harrisand Philip Ball are officially charged with piracy.
14.30– Argentinian activist Camila Speziale, Dutch activist Faiza Oulahsen, Dutch crew member Mannes Ubels,Polish activist Tomaz Dziemianczuk, and aRussian crew memberare officially charged with piracy.
14.00– UK activist Anthony Perrett and a Ukranian crew memberhave been officially charged with piracy.
11.20-Greenpeace activists in Germanychained themself to a Gazprom gas pumpat a petrol station in Berlin at the same time the activists and journalists of theArctic Sunrise, which had peacefully protested at a Gazprom oil platform, were formally charged with piracy.
10.50– Russian activist Roman Dolgov, Finnish activist Sini Saarela, and Swedish/American activist Dima Litvinov are officially charged with piracy.
Responding to the news, Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo said: A charge of piracy is being laid against men and women whose only crime is to be possessed of a conscience.This is an outrage and represents nothing less than an assault on the very principle of peaceful protest.Any claim that these activists are pirates is as absurd as it is abominable. It is utterly irrational, it is designed to intimidate and silence us, but we will not be cowed.”
Photos:http://photo.greenpeace.org/C.aspx?VP3=ViewBox_VPage&ALID=27MZIFVD4JEW&CT=Album
09.50– Crew member Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel from Brazil and freelance videographer Kieron Bryan from UK are charged with piracy.
October 01, 2013
22.10-In a letter from her cell in Murmansk, Russia,Faiza Oulahsenwrites about her experiencesfrom entering the Greenpeace icebreakerArctic Sunriseuntil a few days ago when she along with 29 others lost their freedom to the Russian security forces.
21.00–Greenpeace activists unfurl a 28m wide bannerreading ‘Gazprom, Don’t Foul The Arctic’ at Basel’s St. Jakob Park stadium, shortly after kick-off in the Champions League game between FC Basel and Gazprom sponsored, FC Schalke 04. Greenpeace demands that Gazprom (the Russian state-owned company and Champions League sponsor) cease their high-risk oil exploration in the Arctic. The protestors also repeated demands for the release of the 28 Greenpeace International activists, as well as a freelance photographer and a freelance videographer currently in custody pending investigations into a peaceful Arctic oil protest.
18.00- Greenpeace legal team informed that two activists, Sini Saarela and Dima Litvinov, will be charged on Wednesday 2 October at 08:30 CET
September 30, 2013
17.00– Legal experts challenge piracy allegations against peaceful Greenpeace activists.Read more here.
Greenpeace International Campaigner Faiza Oulahsen (from the Netherlands) at the Leninsky District Court Of Murmansk.
September 29, 2013
19.20– A further eight Greenpeace International activists have been detained for two months in Russia pending an investigation into possible charges of piracy. The eight will join 22 others, including a freelance videographer and freelance photographer, detained on Thursday following a peaceful protest against Arctic oil drilling.Greenpeace International pledged to appeal all 30 detentions.
The 30 have already been held by the Russian authorities for 10 days since the Greenpeace shipArctic Sunrisewas illegally boarded in international waters on Thursday, September 19.
16.40-Crew member Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel from Brazil is to be held in custody until Nov 24th pending a piracy investigation.
15.45– Activist Anthony Perrett from Wales, UK, is to be held in custody until Nov 24th pending a piracy investigation.
14.35 – Crew member Mannes Ubels from The Netherlands is to be held in custody until Nov 24th pending a piracy investigation.
Activist Frank Hewetson from the UK to be held in custody until Nov 24th pending a piracy investigation.
Finnish activist Sini Saarela to be held in custody until Nov 24th pending a piracy investigation.
14.00 – Activist Faiza Oulahsen from the Netherlands is to be held in custody until Nov 24th pending a piracy investigation.
13.20 – Ukrainian crew member to be held in custody for 2 months, until Nov 24th, pending a piracy investigation.
10.30 – A great number of legal experts have commented on the boarding and seizure of the Arctic Sunrise and on the potential piracy charges against the Arctic 30.
10.00 – Spokesperson Dima Litvinov (US/SE) to be held in custody for 2 months, until Nov 24th, pending a piracy investigation. pic.twitter.com/G8yxCBCdt9
09.00 – Five activists have arrived at the Leninsky Court in Murmansk. There are lots of media present for the hearing of the final 8 activists today. pic.twitter.com/NO5aTAxu0I
04.00 – Since September 19th, activists have been standing in solidarity with the Arctic 30 in front of Gazprom HQ in Moscow. Russian law says that if a person alone protests, they don’t need permission. So it’s been 1 person at a time for 9 days.
September 28, 2013
10.30 – Russian federal investigators have boarded the Arctic Sunrise this morning for inspection.Captain Peter Willcox, still being detained, is present for the Investigative Committee inspection of the ship.
Learn more about Captain Willcox here.
September 27, 2013
00.39– At the end of a long day, the Arctic 30 were seen by six judges. No charges were laid, but all 30 are still being detained; 22 are being held for two months as Russian authorities pursue an investigation around piracy charges while eight are being held for three days awaiting a new hearing.Their names and status are listed here.
Video footage of the hearings here
00.24– Greenpeace condemned a series of Russian court rulings which left dozens of activists in custody pending investigations into a peaceful Arctic oil protest. Greenpeace insisted itwould not be intimidated and its lawyers would lodge an appealseeking their immediate release.
00.10– 2nd Engineer Iain Rogers from the UK to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
September 26, 2013
21:43– UK activist, Anthony Perret, to be held in custody for 3 days before new hearing.
20.45– UK freelance videographer, Kieron Bryan, to be held in custody for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
Australian Radio Operator, Colin Keith Russell, to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
Argentinian 2nd mate, Miguel Hernan Perez Orzi, to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
20.17– UK activist, Phil Ball, to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
Argentinian activist, Camila Speziale, to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
19.30– Italian crew member, Cristian D’Alessandro, to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
Brazilian crew member, Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel, to be held in custody for 3 days before new hearing.
Canadian Bosun, Alexandre Poul, to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
Sini Saarela, At The Leninsky District Court Of Murmansk
Finnish activist, Sini Saarela, to be held in custody for 3 days before new hearing.
UK activist, Frank Heweston, to be held in custody for 3 days before new hearing.
Danish 3rd mate, Anne Mie Roer Jensen, to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
Dutch Chief Engineer, Mannes Ubels, to be held in custody for 3 days before new hearing.
17.39– Deckhand Ana Paula Maciel from Brazil to be held in custody for 3 days before new hearing.
17.24– Investigation committee say they need to arrest activists for 3 reasons: may continue criminal activity, destroy evidence, flee the country.
Marco Paolo Weber At The Leninsky District Court Of Murmansk
17.05– Activist Marco Weber from Switzerland, who tried to scale Prirazlomnaya, to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
16.45– Another crew member, a Ukranian cook, to be held in custody for 3 days before new hearing.
16.38– Greenpeace spokesperson Faiza Oulahsen from the Netherlands to be held in custody for 3 days before new hearing.
16.09– Another Russian activist to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
15.55– Assistant cook Gizhem Akhan from Turkey to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
15.30– Capt Pete Willcox from US to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
15.10– Greenpeace International spokesperson Dima Litvinov from Sweden to be held in custody for 3 days before new hearing.
15.00– RECAP: 7 Greenpeace activists have been through preliminary hearing and are to be held in custody pending piracy investigation.
14.15– Canadian crew member Poul Douglas Ruzycki to be held in custody for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
New Zealand crew member David John Haussmann to be held in custody for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
Polish activist Tomasz Dziemianczuk to be held in custody for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
Deckhand Francesco Pisanu from France to be detained for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
Boat mechanic Jonathon Beauchamp from New Zealand to be held in custody for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
13.55– Greenpeace Internationalrespondsto two Russian court decisions.
13.45 – Watch livestream here.
12:36 – Freelance photographer Denis Sinyakov to be held in custody for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
Greenpeace International contracted freelance photographer Denis Sinyakov at the Leninsky District Court Of Murmansk.
2nd court decision: Greenpeace spokesperson Roman Dolgov to be held in custody for 2 months pending piracy investigation.
Greenpeace International spokes person Roman Dolgov at the Leninsky District Court Of Murmansk.
More images from Greenpeace Photo Desk.
08.55– Russians, French, and Canadian crew members are first in preliminary court hearing.Many people trying to jam into the courtrooms.
08.30– One and a half an hour late,the crew and activists are brought to the court room in Murmansk.They are in good spirit, looking resolute. A few even greet and thank the many representatives from media. They are cuffed on hands and feet.
07.00– A preliminary court hearing starts in Murmansk to decide if the piracy investigation should continue, and if the activists should remain free during said investigation.
September 25, 2013
19.15 – Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans informs Dutch parliament that he is considering legal action against Russia if the demand of the Netherlands to release the Arctic Sunrise and its crew remains unanswered.
14.00 – Greenpeace International welcomes President Putin’s statement that the activists were obviously not pirates. In addition, footage apparently taken from Gazprom’s rig during the action on September 18th shows that the Greenpeace International activists posed no threat, while the security forces fired shots near the Greenpeace rhibs.
08.48 – The Greenpeace activists who boarded a Russian oil rig are “obviously not pirates,” says President Vladimir Putin in a speech during the plenary session of the Third International Arctic Forum “The Arctic Territory of Dialogue” held in Salekhard, Russia.
September 24, 2013
18.02 – We have have had some limited contact with our friends on board. They are all fine for now. Some of them have even been able to do sneak calls to friends and family. We should be grateful as long as they are together on the ship. We released three pictures from inside the ship.
17.45 – We have just spoken with the crew. They have been asked to prepare to leave the ship. We don’t yet know where they’re going.
16.01 – Chief researcher at the Institute of State and Law and expert of the Law of the Sea, Vasiliy Gutsulyak, gives an interview on Vesti FM on the use of the piracy paragraph. He calls it overstretched. Actually so overstretched that it in his expert opinion is unlikely to be used.
Audio
15.00 – A diplomatic delegation (18 people, representing 9 nationalities) went on board the Arctic Sunrise and left two hours later after holding face to face meetings with respective nationalities on board.
14.00 – Still at anchor just outside Murmansk and no official charges have been brought, Greenpeace demands access to detained activists.
10.11 – The Arctic Sunrise comes to a full halt and anchors just outside to Murmansk, see Google map here. Greenpeace response to possible charges of piracy.
09.00 – Someone onboard manages to send a few mobile phone images from the Arctic Sunrise in the fjord of Murmansk. Images for download here.
September 23, 2013
17.32 – Douglas Guilfoy, Reader in Law, University College London, International law, Law of the Sea, Piracy Profile tweets: @Patagorda @Greenpeace In my view, only protest which is violent and directed at another ship could be piracy: http://www.ejiltalk.org/political-motivation-and-piracy-what-history-doesnt-teach-us-about-law/
Blog on similar legal scenarios here.
11.57 – More than 50 environmental groups call for the immediate release of the 30 Greenpeace International activists being held under armed guard on the Arctic Sunrise under tow towards Murmansk.
06.03 – Stefan Kirchner, Visiting Professor for Fundamental and Human Rights, University of Lapland tweets: #FreeTheArctic30 Russia violated international law re @gp_sunrise, see quick analysis at http://bit.ly/1eAXnxm
September 22, 2013
16.35 – It has been 72 hours since Russian authorities seized the Arctic Sunrise in Russian EEZ without any legal basis.
September 21, 2013
15.45 – Still without any news from the Arctic Sunrise crew, Greenpeace International strongly rejects any allegation of piracy. It appears that the Russian government is grasping at straws to justify what was clearly an illegal boarding of the Arctic Sunrise in international waters.
15.20 – Professor Geert-Jan Knoops, a professor of international criminal law at the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, is quoted in Dutch media saying:
“As far as the facts are known to me exactly, the Russian coast guard was not entitled [to board the ship]”.
September 20, 2013
14.01 – Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, flag state of the Arctic Sunrise, says that Russian authorities should have contacted the Netherlands before attempting any boarding of the ship.
13.00 – Greenpeace responds to a Russian media report, quoting a senior official on Gazprom’s Prirazlomnaya oil platform who describes a Greenpeace safety pod used in the protest as ‘resembling a bomb’. In reality the safety pod designed to keep the activists warm measures 3 meters long by 2 meters wide, is brightly coloured, and heavily branded with Greenpeace logos.
Greenpeace Training with the Safety Pod. 09/09/2013 Denis Sinyakov / Greenpeace
12.03 – Greenpeace confirms that the Arctic Sunrise has begun to move West in the direction of Murmansk, Russia. The phones on the ship are not answering.
September 19, 2013
22.16 – Russian state media report the Arctic Sunrise is going to be taken to Murmansk, Russia.
22.00 – The first protest in front of a Russian embassy takes place in Washington DC. More than 30 countries follow over the next day.
19.43 – We receive a phone call from the ship on a bad line. The activists and crew are being gathered in the mess by the FSB agents. Sini and Marco have been brought back on the Arctic Sunrise.
15.15 – Around 40 minutes after boarding it appears the radio room has been broken into.
16.35 – The Arctic Sunrise alarm system is activated. Phone calls and tweets from the ship report a helicopter hovering over the ship. FSB agents descend onto the deck by ropes. The boarding happens outside Russian territorial waters in the Russian Exclusive Economic Zone. No legal basis is announced for several days.
Three people manage to lock themselves into the radio room from where they provide an eyewitness account of developments on the ship.
They report an estimated 15-16 armed agents on board, who round up the rest of the crew on the helicopter deck.
13.30 – The Coast Guard describes Marco and Sini as ‘guests’ but requests to speak to them from the Arctic Sunrise and their lawyer go unanswered. As far as is known, no charges are read out.
September 18, 2013
17.28 – Camila, a 21 year-old activist from Argentina, describes the action in a blog post.
02.34 – Four inflatables leave the Arctic Sunrise heading towards Gazprom’s oil platform, the Prirazlomnaya. Activists attempt to climb and establish themselves on the outside structure of the platform to protest against imminent drilling.
They are here to peacefully protest against the Arctic oil rush, which threatens grave harm to the Arctic environment, as well as extracting more oil that humanity cannot afford to burn. The Prirazlomnaya is the first oil rig to start oil production in the ice-filled waters of the Arctic. Safety culture on the rig is a joke.
The nearby Russian Coast Guard ship quickly responds by launching inflatables manned with agents masked in balaclavas. They proceed to ram and slash the Greenpeace inflatables, threaten activists at gun and knife point and fire warning shots from automatic weapons. Further, the remaining crew onboard the Arctic Sunrise count 11 shots fired across the bow from the Coast Guard vessel’s artillery cannon.
A Russian Coast guard officer is seen pointing a knife at a Greenpeace International activist
The Coast Guard seizes activists Sini and Marco, who had managed to climb on to the structure before being forced to retreat by water cannons and several warning shots by hand guns, taking them aboard their vessel.
The remaining activist returns to the Arctic Sunrise that stays in the vicinity but no closer than 3 nautical miles to the Prirazlomnaya.
