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| Russia drops piracy charges against Greenpeace group | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Russia has dropped piracy charges against 30 Greenpeace activists, replacing them with hooliganism charges, according to officials. | Russia has dropped piracy charges against 30 Greenpeace activists, replacing them with hooliganism charges, according to officials. |
| The new charge has a maximum penalty of seven years rather than 15. Greenpeace says it is still "wildly disproportionate". | The new charge has a maximum penalty of seven years rather than 15. Greenpeace says it is still "wildly disproportionate". |
| Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise vessel was seized by Russian forces as activists tried to scale an offshore oil platform. | Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise vessel was seized by Russian forces as activists tried to scale an offshore oil platform. |
| All 30 people on board were detained. | All 30 people on board were detained. |
| Two of them are freelance journalists. | Two of them are freelance journalists. |
| So far all bail applications in the case have been refused. | So far all bail applications in the case have been refused. |
| 'Not pirates' | 'Not pirates' |
| Vladimir Markin, the head of Russia's main investigating agency the Investigative Committee, told Russian news agencies that the charges had been reclassified. | Vladimir Markin, the head of Russia's main investigating agency the Investigative Committee, told Russian news agencies that the charges had been reclassified. |
| But the investigators did not rule out more serious charges at a later date - in particular the use of violence against officials. | But the investigators did not rule out more serious charges at a later date - in particular the use of violence against officials. |
| The refusal of the detainees to give evidence also gives the authorities reason to consider other offences such as terrorism and espionage, Mr Markin said. | The refusal of the detainees to give evidence also gives the authorities reason to consider other offences such as terrorism and espionage, Mr Markin said. |
| Last week, 11 Nobel prize-winners wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to drop the charges of piracy. | Last week, 11 Nobel prize-winners wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to drop the charges of piracy. |
| The presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said the president had no power to influence the courts. | The presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said the president had no power to influence the courts. |
| Mr Putin said last month that the activists had violated international law but it was "absolutely evident that they are, of course, not pirates". | Mr Putin said last month that the activists had violated international law but it was "absolutely evident that they are, of course, not pirates". |
| Vladimir Chuprov of Greenpeace Russia said that there was no case for either piracy or hooliganism charges. | Vladimir Chuprov of Greenpeace Russia said that there was no case for either piracy or hooliganism charges. |
| "The Arctic 30 are no more hooligans than they were pirates," he said in a statement. | "The Arctic 30 are no more hooligans than they were pirates," he said in a statement. |
| "This is still a wildly disproportionate charge that carries up to seven years in jail. It represents nothing less than an assault on the very principle of peaceful protest." | "This is still a wildly disproportionate charge that carries up to seven years in jail. It represents nothing less than an assault on the very principle of peaceful protest." |
| Earlier Greenpeace Russia programme director Ivan Blokov told the Interfax news agency he was surprised the Russian government had refused to attend international court hearings in Germany over the detentions. | Earlier Greenpeace Russia programme director Ivan Blokov told the Interfax news agency he was surprised the Russian government had refused to attend international court hearings in Germany over the detentions. |
| The Netherlands took the case of the Dutch-flagged ship and its crew to the UN tribunal in Hamburg on Monday. | The Netherlands took the case of the Dutch-flagged ship and its crew to the UN tribunal in Hamburg on Monday. |
| The Russian foreign ministry released a statement pointing out that Moscow had opted out of UN Law of the Sea dispute procedures, which infringe upon sovereignty, in 1997. | The Russian foreign ministry released a statement pointing out that Moscow had opted out of UN Law of the Sea dispute procedures, which infringe upon sovereignty, in 1997. |
| All 30 people who were on board the ship are in pre-trial detention in the northern port city of Murmansk until late November. They have complained of being held in harsh conditions, | All 30 people who were on board the ship are in pre-trial detention in the northern port city of Murmansk until late November. They have complained of being held in harsh conditions, |
| They were detained when Russian security sources stormed the ship five weeks ago following a protest against drilling for oil in the Arctic. | They were detained when Russian security sources stormed the ship five weeks ago following a protest against drilling for oil in the Arctic. |
| Greenpeace denies any wrongdoing and is calling for the release of the detainees, who come from 18 countries, and the Arctic Sunrise. | Greenpeace denies any wrongdoing and is calling for the release of the detainees, who come from 18 countries, and the Arctic Sunrise. |