Greenpeace activists held in Russia being moved to St Petersburg

News Manager

Milforums News Bot
By Steve Gutterman MOSCOW (Reuters) - Thirty people arrested in Russia over a protest against Arctic oil drilling were moved from the northern city of Murmansk on Monday on their way to pre-trial detention centers in St. Petersburg, federal investigators and Greenpeace said. The transfer, which follows a reduction of the charges against 28 activists and two journalists, may be aimed to curb international criticism of Russia over what the environmental group says was a peaceful protest. Activists have reported being confined for 23 hours a day in bleak, sometimes ice-cold cells in Murmansk, a port city above the Arctic Circle whose remote location complicates access for lawyers and consular officials. The Kremlin has essentially rejected Greenpeace head Kumi Naidoo's offer to come to Russia and stand as security for their release of the detainees, who come from 18 nations on five continents.




More...
 
Back
Top