Five Britons detained in Russia as part of the so-called “Arctic 30” arrived back in the UK yesterday where they were greeted by relieved friends and family.
The five were arrested amid claims of hooliganism following a protest about oil drilling, and held in jail for two months.
They have since been granted amnesty under a new Russian law.
Greenpeace member Anthony Perrett, 32, of Newport, South Wales, arrived in London with fellow activists Alexandra Harris and Phil Ball, crew member Iain Rogers and freelance videographer Kieron Bryan.
They arrived in Paris in the afternoon before travelling to London’s St Pancras station on Eurostar to be met by their families. A sixth Briton, activist Frank Hewetson, has also been released and was yesterday travelling to another country.
Bryan’s brother, Russell, said his return to the UK was “a massive relief”.
Detained Britons were granted amnesty under new Russian law
“It’s been a long few months for all the family,” he said. “It was very difficult when he was in prison. We couldn’t really speak to him. We had one phone call and series of letters but the letters were way behind where we were. Even last week we were still thinking he could potentially face seven years in jail and face these ridiculous charges. It’s a massive relief.”
Bryan said his brother Kieron, who lives in Peckham, south London, had decided to take a job in Afghanistan before his arrest in Russia.
“I’m not going to stand here and pick his jobs. His job as a journalist inherently involves risks.”
The Arctic 30 – 28 activists and two freelance journalists – were arrested after Russian authorities boarded their ship, the Arctic Sunrise, during an anti-drilling demonstration in September.
The group were detained for protesting against an Arctic offshore oil rig owned by the Russian company Gazprom.
They were initially charged with piracy, but the charge was later changed to hooliganism.
Perrett, who was the first to be released, spent Christmas Day in St Petersburg before being given the news that the Russian authorities had given him a visa and his passport. He said the facility the activists were held in was like a concentration camp.
Asked whether it had been worth it, he said: “Well, look at the media that’s here today. We’re trying to spread the word to save the Arctic and I think we have done that job fairly well.”
Harris said she thought the Russian government let the Arctic 30 go to avoid global criticism in the lead up to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
“I think it was the easy way out for Russia, to get rid of us before the Olympics began and before there’s a big PR pressure from Greenpeace and the rest of the world,” she said.
Harris said the fact they were given an amnesty, despite doing nothing wrong, was “not ideal”.
The activist said she would not rule out a similar protest again, despite slamming the appalling conditions she faced in custody.