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Greenpeace man fears 'losing years of life' in Russia | Greenpeace man fears 'losing years of life' in Russia |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A British journalist detained in Russia after a Greenpeace protest has said he fears "losing years of his life" being kept away from his family and friends. | A British journalist detained in Russia after a Greenpeace protest has said he fears "losing years of his life" being kept away from his family and friends. |
Video journalist Kieron Bryan, 29, from London, was one of 30 people arrested on boat Arctic Sunrise at an offshore oil drilling rig on 18 September. | Video journalist Kieron Bryan, 29, from London, was one of 30 people arrested on boat Arctic Sunrise at an offshore oil drilling rig on 18 September. |
He is one of six Britons charged with hooliganism. | He is one of six Britons charged with hooliganism. |
In a letter to the Sunday Times, Mr Bryan, originally from Devon, described his treatment as "ludicrous". | In a letter to the Sunday Times, Mr Bryan, originally from Devon, described his treatment as "ludicrous". |
The group of 30 - 28 activists, a photographer and video journalist Mr Bryan - had originally been charged with piracy, but Russian authorities dropped the charges last week, replacing them with hooliganism charges. | |
That new charge has a maximum penalty of seven years rather than 15. | That new charge has a maximum penalty of seven years rather than 15. |
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. |
So far all bail applications in the case have been refused. | So far all bail applications in the case have been refused. |
'Terrifying' | 'Terrifying' |
In his letter, Mr Bryan said: "My greatest fear is being kept from my family, my friends and my girlfriend for any great length of time. | In his letter, Mr Bryan said: "My greatest fear is being kept from my family, my friends and my girlfriend for any great length of time. |
"In many ways I'm lucky I don't have children who depend on me, but the fear of losing years of my life and the opportunity to perhaps start a family is terrifying." | "In many ways I'm lucky I don't have children who depend on me, but the fear of losing years of my life and the opportunity to perhaps start a family is terrifying." |
He said the hardest moment he had faced was his first night in prison when the group was split up and placed in different cells. | He said the hardest moment he had faced was his first night in prison when the group was split up and placed in different cells. |
"Now the difficulty is the silence and ignorance imposed by our detention," he said. | "Now the difficulty is the silence and ignorance imposed by our detention," he said. |
He described his cell as 26ft long, 13ft wide and 20ft high. | He described his cell as 26ft long, 13ft wide and 20ft high. |
"I spend 23 hours a day in here with nothing but the occasional book and my thoughts," he wrote. "We are granted an hour a day for exercise which is held in a shed about 30 metres from my cell. If I'm lucky I might get to shout a quick hello to an English speaker." | "I spend 23 hours a day in here with nothing but the occasional book and my thoughts," he wrote. "We are granted an hour a day for exercise which is held in a shed about 30 metres from my cell. If I'm lucky I might get to shout a quick hello to an English speaker." |
He also described some of the food provided. Lunch - soup and a fish stew - "tastes like an ashtray full of seawater," he said. Another dish "is clearly boiled from breakfast onwards". | He also described some of the food provided. Lunch - soup and a fish stew - "tastes like an ashtray full of seawater," he said. Another dish "is clearly boiled from breakfast onwards". |
The other Britons being held are activist Philip Ball, of Oxfordshire, logistics co-ordinator Frank Hewetson from London, activist Anthony Perrett from Newport in south Wales, communications officer Alexandra Harris, originally from Devon and 2nd engineer Iain Rogers, from Exeter. | The other Britons being held are activist Philip Ball, of Oxfordshire, logistics co-ordinator Frank Hewetson from London, activist Anthony Perrett from Newport in south Wales, communications officer Alexandra Harris, originally from Devon and 2nd engineer Iain Rogers, from Exeter. |
All 30 people who were on board the ship are in pre-trial detention in the northern port city of Murmansk until 24 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 24 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. |
Eleven Nobel prize-winners have written to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to drop the charges of piracy. | Eleven Nobel prize-winners have written to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to drop the charges of piracy. |
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. |
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