CEO of Greenpeace David Ritter was joined by Colin Russell‘s wife Christine. They held a media conference to comment on Colin’s upcoming court appearance at a doorstop outside Greenpeace’s Sydney office, before Christine Russell, Col’s daughter Madeleine and New Zealander Jon Beauchamp’s partner Tania Purtle who lives with him in Adelaide departed (photos available on request).
Mrs Russell said, “My daughter and I are desperate to see Colin be released from detention and we are hopeful that the St Petersburg court will today grant him bail.
”Unfortunately the charges of hooliganism, which carry a 7 year jail sentence, still stand even if bail is granted. There will be no end to this nightmare until Col and the rest of the Arctic30 no longer face these charges and are allowed home.“
Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter said, “Even if Colin is granted bail today it is still unclear if and when the non-Russian nationals who make up the Arctic 30 will be able to fly home. For now they remain on bail and must stay in St Petersburg.”
Arctic campaigner Colin Russell has been detained until February 2014 by a Russian court after a peaceful protest against Arctic oil drilling. All other members of the Arctic 30 have been granted bail and all but Colin Russell have been released from the detention centre.
For more information: Alison Orme Greenpeace Australia Pacific 0432 332 104, alison.orme@greenpeace.org.au