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-25065052
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Greenpeace denies 'Arctic 30' group were ill-prepared | Greenpeace denies 'Arctic 30' group were ill-prepared |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A senior Greenpeace official has denied that a group held in a Russian jail after a protest against oil-drilling in the Arctic were ill-prepared. | |
| Director of Greenpeace UK John Sauven said everyone was fully briefed before the operation and argued that Russian authorities overreacted. | Director of Greenpeace UK John Sauven said everyone was fully briefed before the operation and argued that Russian authorities overreacted. |
| Five Britons were among 29 bailed on Friday after two months in jail. | Five Britons were among 29 bailed on Friday after two months in jail. |
| Video journalist Kieron Bryan said there was laughter when a pre-trip briefing mentioned piracy charges. | Video journalist Kieron Bryan said there was laughter when a pre-trip briefing mentioned piracy charges. |
| Mr Bryan, 29, from London, was filming the activists and was among those bailed after a UN maritime tribunal ordered their release. | Mr Bryan, 29, from London, was filming the activists and was among those bailed after a UN maritime tribunal ordered their release. |
| When asked if he would go on another trip of this kind, Mr Bryan said: "There has to be an honest discussion and I would love to part of that discussion with Greenpeace about what happens in the future. | When asked if he would go on another trip of this kind, Mr Bryan said: "There has to be an honest discussion and I would love to part of that discussion with Greenpeace about what happens in the future. |
| "It was my first trip, so it was a baptism of fire." | "It was my first trip, so it was a baptism of fire." |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the 24 hours since his release had been "incredible" and "some of the best" of his life. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the 24 hours since his release had been "incredible" and "some of the best" of his life. |
| Of his imprisonment, the freelance video journalist said: "No-one could believe what was happening. We discussed the legal implications of doing a protest in Russia and I remember distinctly piracy being mentioned and the laughter that followed. | Of his imprisonment, the freelance video journalist said: "No-one could believe what was happening. We discussed the legal implications of doing a protest in Russia and I remember distinctly piracy being mentioned and the laughter that followed. |
| "I can't express what a shock it was to everyone. We all thought that we would get a rap on the wrists and be sent away. So, to find ourselves facing 10 to 15 years was a very difficult time." | "I can't express what a shock it was to everyone. We all thought that we would get a rap on the wrists and be sent away. So, to find ourselves facing 10 to 15 years was a very difficult time." |
| But Mr Sauven said the Greenpeace ship was "seized illegally in international waters". | But Mr Sauven said the Greenpeace ship was "seized illegally in international waters". |
| "The charges of piracy are utterly absurd," he told the Today programme. | "The charges of piracy are utterly absurd," he told the Today programme. |
| "This was an entirely peaceful protest. These charges are absurd and they should be dropped." | "This was an entirely peaceful protest. These charges are absurd and they should be dropped." |
| When asked about whether Greenpeace intended to send another ship in to the Arctic, he said: "We have no plans to do that, but what I would say is that if people are going to be silenced or intimidated when half the oil spills in the world happen in Russia, should we be silent? | When asked about whether Greenpeace intended to send another ship in to the Arctic, he said: "We have no plans to do that, but what I would say is that if people are going to be silenced or intimidated when half the oil spills in the world happen in Russia, should we be silent? |
| "Should we be intimidated? Should journalists not report that and expose what is going on?" | "Should we be intimidated? Should journalists not report that and expose what is going on?" |
| Hooliganism and piracy | Hooliganism and piracy |
| The crew of Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise, hailing from 16 countries, were arrested by the Russian authorities on 18 September on hooliganism charges following a protest at an Arctic offshore oil rig. | The crew of Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise, hailing from 16 countries, were arrested by the Russian authorities on 18 September on hooliganism charges following a protest at an Arctic offshore oil rig. |
| They originally faced piracy charges. | They originally faced piracy charges. |
| In total, 29 of the 30 detainees have been granted bail and the majority released from custody. | In total, 29 of the 30 detainees have been granted bail and the majority released from custody. |
| Those freed on bail include the ship's US captain, Peter Willcox; Canadian Paul Ruzycki; the Netherlands' Faiza Oulahsen and Mannes Ubels; Switzerland's Marco Weber; Argentina's Miguel Orsi; and New Zealand's Jonathan Beauchamp. | Those freed on bail include the ship's US captain, Peter Willcox; Canadian Paul Ruzycki; the Netherlands' Faiza Oulahsen and Mannes Ubels; Switzerland's Marco Weber; Argentina's Miguel Orsi; and New Zealand's Jonathan Beauchamp. |
| Bail has also been approved for Philip Ball from Oxford, Ukraine's Ruslan Yakushev, Gizem Akhan from Turkey, and Canadian Alexandre Paul but there has been no news on their release. | Bail has also been approved for Philip Ball from Oxford, Ukraine's Ruslan Yakushev, Gizem Akhan from Turkey, and Canadian Alexandre Paul but there has been no news on their release. |
| Greenpeace has said Mr Ball might not be released until Monday, but it could not be certain. | Greenpeace has said Mr Ball might not be released until Monday, but it could not be certain. |
| One detainee, Australian radio operator Colin Russell, has been ordered to remain in pre-trial detention until 24 February. Greenpeace is lodging an appeal. | One detainee, Australian radio operator Colin Russell, has been ordered to remain in pre-trial detention until 24 February. Greenpeace is lodging an appeal. |