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Arctic 30 Briton freed on bail by Russian court Two Arctic 30 Britons freed on bail by Russian court
(35 minutes later)
A court in St Petersburg has ruled that Alexandra Harris, one of six Britons among the Arctic 30 charged by Russian authorities with hooliganism, can be freed on bail. The ruling comes after nine foreign citizens and three Russians were granted bail requests earlier in the week and appears to signal the first relaxation of Russia's tough stance on the Greenpeace activists, arrested two months ago after a protest against oil drilling in the Pechora sea. A court in Saint Petersburg has ruled that two British citizens charged by Russian authorities with hooliganism over the Greenpeace protest in the Arctic can be freed on bail. The Greenpeace communications officer Alexandra Harris and freelance videographer Kieron Bryan were the first of six Britons among the "Arctic 30" to appear in court this week.
An emotional Harris begged the judge to set her free, saying she promised that she would not flee Russia or hide from the investigation. Her lawyers said that Greenpeace would put up 2m roubles (£38,000) as a bail surety, the same amount as has been offered for the other activists. The ruling comes after nine foreign citizens and three Russians were granted bail earlier in the week and appears to signal the first relaxation of Russia's tough stance on the Greenpeace activists, arrested two months ago after a protest against oil drilling in the Pechora sea.
"It's been the hardest few months of my life," she told the court. "Every day is a mental battle. The 30 of us have paid a big price for simply a peaceful protest. I beg you to grant me bail. I am a good person." An emotional Harris begged the judge to set her free, saying she promised that she would not flee Russia or hide from the investigation. Her lawyers said Greenpeace would put up 2m roubles (£38,000) as a bail surety, the same amount as has been offered for the other activists.
The judge granted her request, in what appears to be a co-ordinated decision to allow the activists to go free during the investigation period. Although 59-year-old Australian citizen Colin Russell had his detention extended on Monday, all the other activists to come before courts have been granted their bail requests. They will be freed as soon as the money is received from Greenpeace. "It has been the hardest few months of my life," she told the court. "Every day is a mental battle. The 30 of us have paid a big price for simply a peaceful protest. I beg you to grant me bail. I am a good person."
The captain of the Arctic Sunrise, Peter Willcox, was also granted bail on Wednesday, along with Dutch Greenpeace activist Faiza Oulahsen. Bail decisions were also expected for the ship's Dutch engineer, Mannes Ubels, and British freelance videographer Kieron Bryan. More hearings will be held on Thursday and Friday. The judge granted her request, in what appears to be a co-ordinated decision to allow the activists to go free during the investigation period. Although the 59-year-old Australian citizen Colin Russell had his detention extended on Monday, all the other activists to come before the courts have been granted their bail requests. They will be freed as soon as the money is received from Greenpeace.
The captain of the Arctic Sunrise, Peter Willcox, was also granted bail on Wednesday, along with the Dutch Greenpeace activist Faiza Oulahsen. More hearings will be held on Thursday and Friday.
The activists were apprehended in September, when armed coastguard officers descended from helicopters on to the Arctic Sunrise, Greenpeace's icebreaker. They were initially charged with piracy but now face charges of hooliganism as part of an organised group, which carries a maximum jail sentence of seven years.The activists were apprehended in September, when armed coastguard officers descended from helicopters on to the Arctic Sunrise, Greenpeace's icebreaker. They were initially charged with piracy but now face charges of hooliganism as part of an organised group, which carries a maximum jail sentence of seven years.
They were initially held in pre-trial detention in the Arctic port of Murmansk but were moved to St Petersburg by prison train earlier this month. They were initially held in pre-trial detention in the Arctic port of Murmansk but were moved to Saint Petersburg by prison train earlier this month.
Harris, a 27-year-old digital communications officer who joined Greenpeace two years ago and was on her first campaign told Sky News, said as she left the hearing: "This has been the hardest experience of my life. I'm really happy. It's not over yet but there's light at the end of the tunnel. Harris, a 27-year-old digital communications officer who joined Greenpeace two years ago and was on her first campaign, told Sky News as she left the hearing: "This has been the hardest experience of my life. I'm really happy. It's not over yet but there's light at the end of the tunnel.
"It's nice that the Russians made the right decision. I love my parents and look forward to speaking to them soon.""It's nice that the Russians made the right decision. I love my parents and look forward to speaking to them soon."
Bryan, 29, a freelance videographer, was one of two journalists on the trip. His brother Russell said: "It is amazing to know he won't be spending Christmas in a prison cell. Mum and Nancy, his girlfriend, have lived every minute in the cell with him. Clearly it is not over. We have to keep fighting until the charges are dropped. He still faces some very serious charges.
"As well as being delighted we are still very aware the whole process is ongoing. We still want to be over there really."
Russell said the family still did not know the conditions of bail, although there had been rumours that those allowed out of detention might be able to return home. He and his father were "desperate to go out and see him but we are having some issues with visas", he said.
More than half the Arctic 30 have now been granted bail, with only Russell, the Australian, denied it. Greenpeace International said on Tuesday it had already posted bail for nine of those detained but did not expect them to be released before the weekend. Lawyers say they are making bail payments – set at 2m roubles (€45,000) for each detainee – as quickly as they can.
The big question now remains how the bail conditions will work. Greenpeace said it had booked hotel rooms for the activists, but as none of the foreign detainees have Russian visas, they are technically not allowed to be on Russian territory. Lawyers said it was unfamiliar legal territory.The big question now remains how the bail conditions will work. Greenpeace said it had booked hotel rooms for the activists, but as none of the foreign detainees have Russian visas, they are technically not allowed to be on Russian territory. Lawyers said it was unfamiliar legal territory.
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