Both activists and governments have been shocked by Russia’s decision to level serious piracy charges against Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise crew after a protest against Arctic oil drilling.
On Saturday Moscow authorities hit out at both Greenpeace and the Dutch government under whose flag the environmental lobby group’s ship sailed. The Dutch initiated legal action Friday attempting to free the crew.
The US State Department also said it was “monitoring the case very closely.”
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Demonstrators take part in a vigil outside of the Russian Center for Science & Culture on October 5, 2013 in Washington, DC to protest against the arrest of Greenpeace environmentalists and journalists by Russia (AFP Photo/Mandel Ngan)
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Greenpeace activists hold posters with pictures of fellow activists Camila Speziale and Hernan Perez Orzi during a demonstration against the detention of Greenpeace activists in Russia, in Buenos Aires October 5, 2013. Russia pressed piracy charges against all 30 people, including Greenpeace activists Speziale and Orzi, who were arrested after the environmental group Greenpeace staged a protest at an offshore oil platform in the Arctic, investigators said earlier in the week. REUTERS/Enrique Marcarian
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Greenpeace supporters hold placards reading “Free the Arctic 30” in support of 30 activists jailed by Russia in Helsinki on October 5, 2013. (AFP Photo/Kimmo Mantyla)
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British musicians Damon Albarn (L) and Paul Simonon (R) along with British actor Jude Law (2-R) take part in a protest against the detainment of Greenpeace activists by Russia outside the Russian embassy in central London on October 5, 2013. (AFP Photo/Carl Court)
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Activists hold banners that read in Portuguese, “Free the 30” and “Free Ana Paula. Free our activists,” during a protest in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 demanding the release of the 30 Greenpeace activists detained in Russia. On Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, Russian investigators charged the entire crew of a Greenpeace ship with piracy for a protest at a Russian oil platform in the Arctic. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
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Family and friends of Greenpeace activist Kieron Bryan who is detained in Russia, inclduding his mother Ann Bryan (R), protest outside the Russian Embassy in London October 5, 2013. Russia pressed piracy charges against all 30 people arrested after the environmental group Greenpeace staged a protest at an offshore oil platform in the Arctic, investigators said earlier in the week. REUTERS/Olivia Harris
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