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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, it's good to be back and speaking English, which has been sorely missed." "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. 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."
"I'm looking forward to spending some time in the woods and getting at one with nature that we are trying to preserve," he added. 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 surroundingsGrim surroundings
Earlier, Mr Perrett told Radio 4's Today programme: "It's been a very long 100 days. I'm quite eager to get back to Wales and sleep in my own bed and get back to work." Earlier, Mr Perrett told Radio 4's Today programme he had been treated well in Russia despite grim surroundings.
He said 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. "I hope we've got the conversation started in Russia about the drilling in the Arctic and raised it with the Russian voters."
"It was definitely worth it. Unless humanity starts acting as one people on this planet we're going to irrevocably change the climate and make it unliveable on this planet for everybody."
Mr Bryan said he too was relieved to be heading home.
"It is a shame that we missed Christmas, but I know that I'm going to be in the UK to start 2014, which is such a wonderful feeling," he said.
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 concernsLegal 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."