This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/03/greenpeaces-colin-russell-criticises-government-on-return-from-russia

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Greenpeace's Colin Russell criticises government on return from Russia Greenpeace's Colin Russell criticises government on return from Russia
(about 4 hours later)
Australian activist Colin Russell has arrived home saying he has no regrets about his time spent in a Russian jail and that Greenpeace will campaign the "same as ever".Australian activist Colin Russell has arrived home saying he has no regrets about his time spent in a Russian jail and that Greenpeace will campaign the "same as ever".
The 59-year-old flew into Hobart on Thursday night after being detained by Russian authorities for three months over a seaborne protest against oil drilling in the Arctic.The 59-year-old flew into Hobart on Thursday night after being detained by Russian authorities for three months over a seaborne protest against oil drilling in the Arctic.
With his wife and daughter at his side he told reporters at Hobart airport that being detained was unexpected and "wasn't in my travel brochure".With his wife and daughter at his side he told reporters at Hobart airport that being detained was unexpected and "wasn't in my travel brochure".
Russell, a radio operator, was one of 30 activists arrested and detained in September for protesting against a Russian oil rig operated by Moscow-based energy company Gazprom in the Pechora Sea.Russell, a radio operator, was one of 30 activists arrested and detained in September for protesting against a Russian oil rig operated by Moscow-based energy company Gazprom in the Pechora Sea.
Known as the Arctic 30, the group, made up of 28 Greenpeace activists and two freelance journalists, had been accused of piracy then hooliganism.Known as the Arctic 30, the group, made up of 28 Greenpeace activists and two freelance journalists, had been accused of piracy then hooliganism.
The charges were dropped last week after the Russian parliament passed an amnesty law and freed the defendants.The charges were dropped last week after the Russian parliament passed an amnesty law and freed the defendants.
Russian authorities granted Russell an exit visa last week, allowing him to return home.Russian authorities granted Russell an exit visa last week, allowing him to return home.
He said the Greenpeace protest was a peaceful one and the Russian reaction was "probably overdone".He said the Greenpeace protest was a peaceful one and the Russian reaction was "probably overdone".
But the arrests and detention would not deter the environmental group, he said.But the arrests and detention would not deter the environmental group, he said.
"I think we'll still campaign the same as ever ... that's what we do."I think we'll still campaign the same as ever ... that's what we do.
"I have no regrets about the time in jail ... it's done the job," Russell said."I have no regrets about the time in jail ... it's done the job," Russell said.
"It's freedom of speech and I think maybe Russians learnt a bit of a lesson too that people should have the right to freedom of speech.""It's freedom of speech and I think maybe Russians learnt a bit of a lesson too that people should have the right to freedom of speech."
Russell said the Russian troops who boarded the Greenpeace vessel "weren't messing around".Russell said the Russian troops who boarded the Greenpeace vessel "weren't messing around".
"It was pretty hair-raising, pretty scary when you see people with full balaclavas on and automatic weapons, I'm not used to that of course.""It was pretty hair-raising, pretty scary when you see people with full balaclavas on and automatic weapons, I'm not used to that of course."
He said he was not harshly treated in the jail he was in but it was run down and not clean and one man there had tuberculosis and Aids.He said he was not harshly treated in the jail he was in but it was run down and not clean and one man there had tuberculosis and Aids.
Russell said he would have to have blood tests for the disease for the next two years.Russell said he would have to have blood tests for the disease for the next two years.
He said the Australian government "could have gone into bat a little bit more for me".He said the Australian government "could have gone into bat a little bit more for me".
"Australia was going to let me go through Russia's due legal process, but it just doesn't exist," he said."Australia was going to let me go through Russia's due legal process, but it just doesn't exist," he said.
But he did pay tribute to Australian consular officials who kept him informed and supplied him with food and books.But he did pay tribute to Australian consular officials who kept him informed and supplied him with food and books.
Russell said he wanted to thank everybody in Australia who backed him during his ordeal.Russell said he wanted to thank everybody in Australia who backed him during his ordeal.
His daughter Madeleine said it was a "huge relief" to have her father back and she was grateful to everyone who had supported them, while his wife, Christine, said she was proud of what her husband had done.His daughter Madeleine said it was a "huge relief" to have her father back and she was grateful to everyone who had supported them, while his wife, Christine, said she was proud of what her husband had done.
The foreign minister, Julie Bishop, defended the government's efforts on behalf of Russell.The foreign minister, Julie Bishop, defended the government's efforts on behalf of Russell.
Bishop said the activist had received a high level of consular and ministerial assistance, saying she had personally written to the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov.Bishop said the activist had received a high level of consular and ministerial assistance, saying she had personally written to the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov.
She said the representation afforded Russell was higher "than is often provided".She said the representation afforded Russell was higher "than is often provided".
However, she said, to publicise her own involvement would have been counterproductive.However, she said, to publicise her own involvement would have been counterproductive.
"If you put a lot of publicity around ministerial representation it can raise the false hopes of others in jail overseas, who can be led to believe that just a phone call from the minister can make all the difference, and that is not the case," Bishop told ABC Radio on Friday."If you put a lot of publicity around ministerial representation it can raise the false hopes of others in jail overseas, who can be led to believe that just a phone call from the minister can make all the difference, and that is not the case," Bishop told ABC Radio on Friday.
"And by making it public it can negate the representation.""And by making it public it can negate the representation."
The acting Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, described Russell as “an Australian hero” for taking a stand for the environment.
“To risk his personal liberty in an effort to protect some of our most pristine wilderness is something that is to be congratulated,” Di Natale said. “We need heroes like Colin Russell, at a time when our leaders in this country seem intent on shirking environmental issues.”
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.