Russia has to pay for Greenpeace arrest

Greenpeace's ice breaker 'Arctic Sunrise' enters its homeport in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on August 9, 2014, after returning from Murmansk, almost a year after it was seized by Russia during a protest against Arctic oil drilling. (Remko de Waal/AFP/Getty Images)
Greenpeace’s ice breaker ‘Arctic Sunrise’ enters its homeport in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on August 9, 2014, after returning from Murmansk, almost a year after it was seized by Russia during a protest against Arctic oil drilling. (Remko de Waal/AFP/Getty Images)
The detention of the “Arctic Sunrise” and the arrest of 30 eco-activists following the Greenpeace campaign in the Pechora Sea was illegal and must be compensated, a court in the Hague decides.

The Permanent Arbitrary Court in the Hague on Monday presented a ruling according to which Russia will have to pay the Netherland compensation for its handling of the Greenpeace activitists, Interfax reports.

The Arctic Sunrise sailed under Dutch flag when it in September 2013 campaigned against Gazprom Neft’s oil activities in the Pechora Sea. The activists and the vessel were arrested on piracy charges. They were released in December the same year after Russia agreed to grant an amnesty.

Russia violated international law when it entered the ship and arrested the 30 crew members, the court ruling reads. The crew was later called “the Arctic-30”.

Appeal likely

The Arctic Sunrise was allowed to leave Murmansk only in early August 2014.

Russia quickly announced that it is likely to appeal the verdict of the Haugue court.

“The validity of the Russian law enforcement authorities’ actions are not disputable since the arrest of the “Arctic Sunrise” was based on a court decision”, a representative of the Russian side says to Interfax.

Related stories from around the North:

Canada: Greenpeace responds to report Canada is ill-prepared for Arctic oil disasters, Radio Canada International

Finland:  Finland’s last nuclear project?, Yle News

Norway:  Statoil and Rosneft prepare for drilling despite sanctions, Barents Observer

Russia:  Russian republics unite against oil spills, Barents Observer

United States: Clinton tweets opposition to Arctic drilling, Alaska Dispatch News

 

Atle Staalesen, The Independent Barents Observer

For more news from the Barents region visit The Independent Barents Observer.

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