Sydney/Amsterdam, 19 December 2013. The Russian parliament yesterday formally adopted an amnesty that will end legal proceedings against the Arctic 30, which includes Australian Colin Russell and permanent residents Alex Harris (Sydney) and Jon Beauchamp (Adelaide). Video of reactive soundbites from three Arctic30 members now available in addition to extensive video footage of the Arctic 30 campaign.
59 year old Australian Colin Russell from Tasmania expressed relief at the news after three months since his detention began and told the ABC, "I'm really relieved now. There's been no light at the end of the tunnel. I still feel as though I haven't done anything wrong and we were illegally taken in the high seas, international waters. So all that still stands as far as I'm concerned."
27 year old social media expert Alexandra Harris, employed by Greenpeace Australia Pacific in their Sydney office who lives in Manly said, "It’s strange that we are being forgiven a crime we didn't commit. But I am relieved and looking forward to moving on with my life.
"I will continue the battle to save the Arctic, I feel more committed than ever. This is not over yet, it’s only the beginning," Ms Harris said.
The Greenpeace activists who spent two months in jail after a peaceful protest in the Arctic have expressed relief, but they also declared: “There is no amnesty for the Arctic.”
At 4pm local time yesterday the Duma officially adopted an amendment that extends an amnesty decree to defendants who have been charged with hooliganism. It therefore includes the Arctic 30 - the 28 activists and two freelance journalists who were arrested following a peaceful protest at a Gazprom-operated Arctic oil platform three months ago today.
The legal proceedings against the Arctic 30 will now come to an end and the 26 non-Russians will be free to return home to their families as soon as they are given exit visas by the Russian authorities.
Peter Willcox, Captain of the Arctic Sunrise, said: “I might soon be going home to my family, but I should never have been charged and jailed in the first place. We sailed north to bear witness to a profound environmental threat but our ship was stormed by masked men wielding knives and guns. Now it’s nearly over and we may soon be truly free, but there’s no amnesty for the Arctic. We may soon be home, but the Arctic remains a fragile global treasure under assault by oil companies and the rising temperatures they’re driving. We went there to protest against this madness. We were never the criminals here.”
It is unclear when the non-Russians amongst the Arctic 30 will be able to leave the country. At present they do not have the correct stamps in their passports, having been brought to Russia by commandos after being illegally seized in international waters. By accepting the amnesty they will not be admitting guilt, but the legal proceedings against them will come to an end. The fate of the Arctic Sunrise, currently impounded in Murmansk, remains uncertain, despite the order of an international court that it be released following a case brought by the Dutch government.
The campaign to free the Arctic 30 has seen 860 protests in 46 countries and in more than 150 cities worldwide, while more than 2.6 million people wrote to Russian embassies. Supporters included Sir Paul McCartney, Madonna, Jude Law, Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard, Ewan McGregor, Juliette Lewis, Ricky Martin, Edward Norton, Gael García Bernal, Ricardo Darín, Alejandro Sanz, Pedro Almodóvar and scores more famous names.
Political support was offered by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Angela Merkel, David Cameron, François Hollande, Ban Ki-moon and Hillary Clinton. Twelve Nobel Peace Prize winners called for their release, including Desmond Tutu, Aung San Suu Kyi and Lech Walesa.
Contact:
Alison Orme Greenpeace Australia Pacific 0432 332 104
Greenpeace International press desk: +31 20 718 24 70 or pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace International picture desk: +31 20 718 24 71
Greenpeace International video desk: +31 20 718 24 72
Video/Stills: A short package with soundbites from Arctic 30 members Dima Litvinov (Swedish and English), Faiza Oulahsen (English) and Peter Willcox (English) is now available for preview and download: http://photo.greenpeace.org/image/GP0STO61H. Extensive footage and stills available in relation to the Arctic 30 on request.