Russia files piracy charges against Greenpeace activists for anti-drilling protest in Arctic

MURMANSK, Russia – Russia has filed piracy charges against Greenpeace activists who tried to board an offshore drilling platform in the Arctic owned by state-controlled natural gas company Gazprom.

The 30 activists are on a Greenpeace ship, the Arctic Sunrise, being towed toward the port city of Murmansk by the Russian Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard stormed the ship last week after the activists tried to climb aboard the platform to protest oil drilling in Arctic waters and call attention to the environmental risks.

The Investigative Committee, Russia’s federal investigative agency, said Tuesday that it had opened a case on piracy charges, which carry a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years and a fine of 500,000 rubles (about $15,500).

Greenpeace insists that Russia had no right to board the ship.

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