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Greenpeace Arctic detainees return home from Russia | Greenpeace Arctic detainees return home from Russia |
(35 minutes later) | |
Five British Greenpeace activists have arrived in the UK from Russia after being granted an amnesty from charges over an Arctic oil drilling protest. | Five British Greenpeace activists have arrived in the UK from Russia after being granted an amnesty from charges over an Arctic oil drilling protest. |
Anthony Perrett, Alexandra Harris and Phil Ball travelled home with crew member Iain Rogers and videographer Kieron Bryan after 100 days in Russia. | Anthony Perrett, Alexandra Harris and Phil Ball travelled home with crew member Iain Rogers and videographer Kieron Bryan after 100 days in Russia. |
There were emotional family reunions at London's St Pancras rail station. | There were emotional family reunions at London's St Pancras rail station. |
The five were among 30 people held on hooliganism charges and were released under a new Russian amnesty law. | The five were among 30 people held on hooliganism charges and were released under a new Russian amnesty law. |
They flew from St Petersburg to Paris, then travelled on to St Pancras on Eurostar. | They flew from St Petersburg to Paris, then travelled on to St Pancras on Eurostar. |
'Complete overreaction' | |
Mr Perrett told reporters it was "good to be back" and he was looking forward to going for a walk in the woods, once back in Wales. | Mr Perrett told reporters it was "good to be back" and he was looking forward to going for a walk in the woods, once back in Wales. |
He said prison conditions in Murmansk had been difficult, describing being held in a cell for 23 hours a day and sharing a toilet without a cubicle with three others. | He said prison conditions in Murmansk had been difficult, describing being held in a cell for 23 hours a day and sharing a toilet without a cubicle with three others. |
"It has been a strange few months but it is over now and it is good to be back," he said. | "It has been a strange few months but it is over now and it is good to be back," he said. |
"We're very relieved to be home and speaking English, which has been sorely missed." | |
Asked whether it had been worth it, he said: "Well, look at the media that's here today. We're trying to spread the word to save the Arctic and I think we have done that job fairly well." | |
Ms Harris said the detention of the activists was "obscene, a complete overreaction on the part of Russia". | |
"There was no physical violence towards me but it was torture - we spent two months in a Russian jail cell and 100 days detained for a crime we didn't commit," she added. | |
She said she thought Russia let them go to avoid global criticism in the run-up to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. | |
Once back at home in Devon, she said she was looking forward to spending time with her family and eating home-cooked food. | |
A sixth Briton, activist Frank Hewetson, has also been released and is travelling to another country. | A sixth Briton, activist Frank Hewetson, has also been released and is travelling to another country. |
Another activist, Canadian Alexandre Paul, was also expected to arrive in Montreal later on Friday. | Another activist, Canadian Alexandre Paul, was also expected to arrive in Montreal later on Friday. |
Eight of the so-called Arctic 30 group arrested in September during action at an offshore oil rig owned by the Russian company Gazprom have now left Russia. | Eight of the so-called Arctic 30 group arrested in September during action at an offshore oil rig owned by the Russian company Gazprom have now left Russia. |
The departures began on Thursday when Dima Litvinov, a Swedish-American, left Saint Petersburg on a train to Helsinki. | The departures began on Thursday when Dima Litvinov, a Swedish-American, left Saint Petersburg on a train to Helsinki. |
Grim surroundings | Grim surroundings |
Earlier, Mr Perrett told Radio 4's Today programme he had been treated well in Russia despite grim surroundings. | |
"We weren't treated like prisoners of war. It had very much the razor wire and the barbed wire and the reinforcing bar which made up cages. It had the aesthetic of a concentration camp." | "We weren't treated like prisoners of war. It had very much the razor wire and the barbed wire and the reinforcing bar which made up cages. It had the aesthetic of a concentration camp." |
Mr Perrett, 32, of Newport, south Wales, added that he would be happy to return to Russia to carry out further protests, although Greenpeace currently had no plans for further action there," he said. | Mr Perrett, 32, of Newport, south Wales, added that he would be happy to return to Russia to carry out further protests, although Greenpeace currently had no plans for further action there," he said. |
"I hope we've got the conversation started in Russia about the drilling in the Arctic and raised it with the Russian voters." | |
Greenpeace said all but the four Russian members of the Arctic 30 are expected to leave the country over the coming days. | Greenpeace said all but the four Russian members of the Arctic 30 are expected to leave the country over the coming days. |
Legal concerns | Legal concerns |
"All 30 have since had the case against them dropped after the Russian parliament approved an amnesty decree last week," the environmental campaign group said. | "All 30 have since had the case against them dropped after the Russian parliament approved an amnesty decree last week," the environmental campaign group said. |
"The 30 benefited from the amnesty without admitting any guilt." | "The 30 benefited from the amnesty without admitting any guilt." |
The release and return of the detainees was welcomed by the UK's Minister for Europe, David Lidington. | The release and return of the detainees was welcomed by the UK's Minister for Europe, David Lidington. |
He said: "I am delighted that the British nationals have been allowed to return to their families and friends. This is a welcome step from the Russian government." | He said: "I am delighted that the British nationals have been allowed to return to their families and friends. This is a welcome step from the Russian government." |
However he said there were still concerns over Russia's legal system. | However he said there were still concerns over Russia's legal system. |
"The British government continues to call on the Russian authorities to strengthen the rule of law, tackle corruption and promote independence of the judiciary." | "The British government continues to call on the Russian authorities to strengthen the rule of law, tackle corruption and promote independence of the judiciary." |