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Greenpeace Director Offers to Forfeit His Own Freedom for Those of Jailed Activists Greenpeace Director Offers to Forfeit His Own Freedom for Those of Jailed Activists
(about 2 hours later)
MOSCOW — The executive director of Greenpeace International offered on Wednesday to travel to Russia and risk his own freedom with a possibly lengthy prison sentence, if it would help win the release on bail of the Greenpeace activists who are being held by Russia on piracy charges.MOSCOW — The executive director of Greenpeace International offered on Wednesday to travel to Russia and risk his own freedom with a possibly lengthy prison sentence, if it would help win the release on bail of the Greenpeace activists who are being held by Russia on piracy charges.
The director, Naidoo Kumi, wrote in an open letter to President Vladimir V. Putin that the organization made no claim that its activists were “above the law” when they scaled a Russian offshore oil platform last month to draw attention to the dangers of drilling in icy Arctic waters. He said he had taken part in a similar protest a year earlier, climbing on to the same platform in full view of Russian coast guards, and was prepared to submit to Russian justice if it would help free the others. The director, Kumi Naidoo, wrote in an open letter to President Vladimir V. Putin that the organization made no claim that its activists were “above the law” when they scaled a Russian offshore oil platform last month to draw attention to the dangers of drilling in icy Arctic waters. He said he had taken part in a similar protest a year earlier, climbing on to the same platform in full view of Russian coast guards, and was prepared to submit to Russian justice if it would help free the others.
Russian commandos descended from helicopters onto the activists’ ship, the Arctic Sunrise, on Sept. 19 and arrested the 28 crew members and two freelance journalists on board. The ship was towed to the port of Murmansk, where a court this week declined to free the activists and journalists on bail, ordering them held for an initial two-month period to await trial.Russian commandos descended from helicopters onto the activists’ ship, the Arctic Sunrise, on Sept. 19 and arrested the 28 crew members and two freelance journalists on board. The ship was towed to the port of Murmansk, where a court this week declined to free the activists and journalists on bail, ordering them held for an initial two-month period to await trial.
Greenpeace maintains that the boarding of the platform, the Prirazlomnayarig in the Pechora Sea off the north Siberian coast, was a peaceful protest that, under Russian law, could not be treated as piracy, which requires an intention to seize a vessel, its crew or goods, and carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.Greenpeace maintains that the boarding of the platform, the Prirazlomnayarig in the Pechora Sea off the north Siberian coast, was a peaceful protest that, under Russian law, could not be treated as piracy, which requires an intention to seize a vessel, its crew or goods, and carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.
The detentions are the most serious challenge Greenpeace has faced under Mr. Kumi, a veteran of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement who became executive director in 2009. The detentions are the most serious challenge Greenpeace has faced under Mr. Naidoo, a veteran of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement who became executive director in 2009.
He has charmed his way into corporate boardrooms while never surrendering the group’s scrappy activist tactics. But it remains to be seen whether his strategy of protesting and negotiating simultaneously will have much effect in Russia.He has charmed his way into corporate boardrooms while never surrendering the group’s scrappy activist tactics. But it remains to be seen whether his strategy of protesting and negotiating simultaneously will have much effect in Russia.
The Greenpeace arrests have highlighted the great distance between Russia’s government and the West on matters of civil disobedience and freedom of speech. If Mr. Kumi were to travel to Russia as something of a hostage for his crew, he would join a diverse group of figures whose cases here are at the center of debates with Western governments, including the jailed members of the punk band Pussy Riot and the former National Security Agency contractor Edward J. Snowden, who has received temporary asylum in Russia. The Greenpeace arrests have highlighted the great distance between Russia’s government and the West on matters of civil disobedience and freedom of speech. If Mr. Naidoo were to travel to Russia as something of a hostage for his crew, he would join a diverse group of figures whose cases here are at the center of debates with Western governments, including the jailed members of the punk band Pussy Riot and the former National Security Agency contractor Edward J. Snowden, who has received temporary asylum in Russia.
Russian authorities hinted strongly on Wednesday that they would charge the Greenpeace crew with additional crimes besides piracy. Vladimir Markin, the chief spokesman for the Investigative Committee, a law enforcement organization, told the Interfax news agency that the police had found possible “narcotic substances” on board the Arctic Sunrise, possibly poppy seeds or morphine.Russian authorities hinted strongly on Wednesday that they would charge the Greenpeace crew with additional crimes besides piracy. Vladimir Markin, the chief spokesman for the Investigative Committee, a law enforcement organization, told the Interfax news agency that the police had found possible “narcotic substances” on board the Arctic Sunrise, possibly poppy seeds or morphine.
Greenpeace responded that its policies prohibited illegal drugs aboard its vessels, and that since the ship had been under Russian control for weeks, the origin of any evidence of drugs discovered onboard now would be unclear.Greenpeace responded that its policies prohibited illegal drugs aboard its vessels, and that since the ship had been under Russian control for weeks, the origin of any evidence of drugs discovered onboard now would be unclear.
Russian investigators were also considering a charge of interfering with law enforcement against whichever activist was piloting one of Greenpeace’s inflatable speedboats during the episode on the Pechora Sea, Interfax reported.Russian investigators were also considering a charge of interfering with law enforcement against whichever activist was piloting one of Greenpeace’s inflatable speedboats during the episode on the Pechora Sea, Interfax reported.
“I would come to you with an offer,” Mr. Kumi wrote to Mr. Putin. “I am willing to move my life to Russia for the duration of this affair. I would offer myself as a guarantor for the good conduct of the Greenpeace activists, were they to be released on bail.” He asked for a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Putin “anywhere in the world, in a place of your choosing, but I ask that if possible our meeting is held at your earliest convenience in Russia.” “I would come to you with an offer,” Mr. Naidoo wrote to Mr. Putin. “I am willing to move my life to Russia for the duration of this affair. I would offer myself as a guarantor for the good conduct of the Greenpeace activists, were they to be released on bail.” He asked for a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Putin “anywhere in the world, in a place of your choosing, but I ask that if possible our meeting is held at your earliest convenience in Russia.”
Mr. Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told a Russian news web site, Lenta.ru, that the Russian prosecutor’s office was independent and that Mr.Putin “was not the right addressee.”Mr. Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told a Russian news web site, Lenta.ru, that the Russian prosecutor’s office was independent and that Mr.Putin “was not the right addressee.”
The letter appeared at least in part to respond to comments Mr. Putin made at a conference on Arctic affairs that coincided with the seizure of the Arctic Sunrise.The letter appeared at least in part to respond to comments Mr. Putin made at a conference on Arctic affairs that coincided with the seizure of the Arctic Sunrise.
“It would have been much better if representatives of this organization were present in this room, and would express their opinion on the issues we are discussing,” Mr. Putin said. “Nobody would ignore that.”“It would have been much better if representatives of this organization were present in this room, and would express their opinion on the issues we are discussing,” Mr. Putin said. “Nobody would ignore that.”