This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24488010
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Greenpeace ship Britons denied bail by Russian court | Greenpeace ship Britons denied bail by Russian court |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Two Britons arrested after a Greenpeace protest at an offshore oil drilling rig have been denied bail in Russia. | Two Britons arrested after a Greenpeace protest at an offshore oil drilling rig have been denied bail in Russia. |
| A court in Murmansk ruled that Kieron Bryan, from London, and Philip Ball, of Oxfordshire, should remain in pre-trial detention until 24 November. | |
| The pair were among six Britons on board the organisation's boat Arctic Sunrise held on 18 September. | The pair were among six Britons on board the organisation's boat Arctic Sunrise held on 18 September. |
| Greenpeace has called from the release of Mr Bryan on the basis he was a journalist working alongside activists. | Greenpeace has called from the release of Mr Bryan on the basis he was a journalist working alongside activists. |
| All 30 people on the vessel have been accused of piracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. | All 30 people on the vessel have been accused of piracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. |
| Four earlier bail applications from Russians - including another journalist - were also refused. | Four earlier bail applications from Russians - including another journalist - were also refused. |
| Freelance video journalist Mr Bryan, 29, appeared in court behind a glass screen, wearing a green checked shirt. | Freelance video journalist Mr Bryan, 29, appeared in court behind a glass screen, wearing a green checked shirt. |
| Russia's Interfax news agency quoted him as saying he did not have journalistic accreditation and intended to sell his footage after returning from the Arctic. | Russia's Interfax news agency quoted him as saying he did not have journalistic accreditation and intended to sell his footage after returning from the Arctic. |
| 'Harsh punishment' | 'Harsh punishment' |
| "I had just verbal contracts. Verbal agreements with many leading TV companies that I would provide them with footage afterwards," Bryan told the court. | "I had just verbal contracts. Verbal agreements with many leading TV companies that I would provide them with footage afterwards," Bryan told the court. |
| Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said the court's decision "flies in the face of all reason". | Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said the court's decision "flies in the face of all reason". |
| He added: "The decision of the court to refuse bail looks increasingly like the Russian authorities are meting out unnecessarily harsh punishment even before any trial. | He added: "The decision of the court to refuse bail looks increasingly like the Russian authorities are meting out unnecessarily harsh punishment even before any trial. |
| "In the case of Kieron Bryan, he is a professional journalist, travelling on the Greenpeace ship, witnessing a peaceful protest against oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean. | "In the case of Kieron Bryan, he is a professional journalist, travelling on the Greenpeace ship, witnessing a peaceful protest against oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean. |
| "He has committed no crime and should be released immediately." | "He has committed no crime and should be released immediately." |
| The BBC's Moscow Correspondent Daniel Sandford reports that lawyers for the two men argued that the Gazprom's Prirazlomnaya oil platform is more like an island than a ship, so piracy charges should not apply. | The BBC's Moscow Correspondent Daniel Sandford reports that lawyers for the two men argued that the Gazprom's Prirazlomnaya oil platform is more like an island than a ship, so piracy charges should not apply. |
| Sergey Golubuk, a lawyer for Greenpeace International, said the detainees were denying the charge of piracy - defined by international law as "violent attack with personal gain in mind" at sea. | Sergey Golubuk, a lawyer for Greenpeace International, said the detainees were denying the charge of piracy - defined by international law as "violent attack with personal gain in mind" at sea. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "All these basic indefensible elements of piracy are obviously lacking in all people on board Arctic Sunrise, without exception." | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "All these basic indefensible elements of piracy are obviously lacking in all people on board Arctic Sunrise, without exception." |
| Mr Bryan's brother said his family had not been able to speak to him since his arrest and were finding the situation difficult. | Mr Bryan's brother said his family had not been able to speak to him since his arrest and were finding the situation difficult. |
| The 32-year-old, originally from Shebbear in north Devon, has only been able to contact his family through a single letter, written nearly two weeks ago. | The 32-year-old, originally from Shebbear in north Devon, has only been able to contact his family through a single letter, written nearly two weeks ago. |
| Poppy straw | Poppy straw |
| Russell Bryan told Today: "Mum and Dad are finding it very hard, and myself as well. We haven't heard from Kieron in almost three weeks now, in terms of phone calls. | Russell Bryan told Today: "Mum and Dad are finding it very hard, and myself as well. We haven't heard from Kieron in almost three weeks now, in terms of phone calls. |
| "It's been very hard not being able to speak to him. | "It's been very hard not being able to speak to him. |
| "Kieron is a freelance journalist. He is not a Greenpeace member or a Greenpeace activist. This is not something that Kieron would have anticipated at all." | "Kieron is a freelance journalist. He is not a Greenpeace member or a Greenpeace activist. This is not something that Kieron would have anticipated at all." |
| A spokesman for Vladimir Putin denied the Russian President had put pressure on the investigation by declaring on 25 September that the protesters had violated international law. | |
| Russia's Investigative Committee has said the charges against some of those detained might change because drugs - thought to be poppy straw and morphine - were found on the boat. | Russia's Investigative Committee has said the charges against some of those detained might change because drugs - thought to be poppy straw and morphine - were found on the boat. |
| Poppy straw, or raw opium, can be used to produce morphine or heroin. | Poppy straw, or raw opium, can be used to produce morphine or heroin. |
| The committee also said investigators were trying to establish which detainees were responsible for "deliberately ramming" Russian coastguard boats in the Arctic. | The committee also said investigators were trying to establish which detainees were responsible for "deliberately ramming" Russian coastguard boats in the Arctic. |
| Greenpeace said any suggestion illegal drugs were found was a "smear" and "fabrication" as its ships only carry medical supplies required under maritime law. | Greenpeace said any suggestion illegal drugs were found was a "smear" and "fabrication" as its ships only carry medical supplies required under maritime law. |
| The UK government, meanwhile, has raised the case of the six detained Britons with the Russian authorities. | The UK government, meanwhile, has raised the case of the six detained Britons with the Russian authorities. |
| Those being held with activist Mr Ball and Mr Bryan are logistics co-ordinator Frank Hewetson from London, activist Anthony Perrett from Newport in Wales, communications officer Alexandra Harris, originally from Devon and 2nd engineer Iain Rogers, from Exeter. | Those being held with activist Mr Ball and Mr Bryan are logistics co-ordinator Frank Hewetson from London, activist Anthony Perrett from Newport in Wales, communications officer Alexandra Harris, originally from Devon and 2nd engineer Iain Rogers, from Exeter. |