Greenpeace activists may spend Christmas at home after all

Russian parliament voting today to grant Greenpeace acivists amnesty

After first being told to stay in Russia, Greenpeace activists arrested exactly three months ago are likely to be given amnesty and allowed to leave the country, Greenpeace reported in a press release today.

The Russian parliament, the Duma, yesterday voted to include the 30 activists on an amnesty bill that would clear them of the hooliganism charges they faced for their action against a Russian oil rig in the Arctic Ocean in September. Also included on the amnesty bill are the jailed members of Pussy Riot. 

The Greenpeace activists attempted to board the Gazprom-owned oil rig and were subsequently arrested by Russian special forces who raided their ship, the Arctic Sunrise.

READ MORE: Danish Greenpeace activist accuses Russia of kidnapping

Risky oil escapades
All 30 activists, including Danish citizen Annie Mie Roer Jensen, have been released from jail on bail, and if the Duma passes the law this afternoon it is likely that they will be able to go home.

“We are enormously relieved for Anne Mie and the rest of our friends and colleagues, but we do not condone the politically-motivated charges against our people and the two months they spent in prison in violation of international law,” Greenpeace Denmark spokesperson Jon Burgwald stated.

The activists had hoped to draw attention to the risks attached to oil exploration in the sensitive Arctic Ocean.

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