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Russia charges 2 Greenpeace activists with piracy after oil rig protest

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In this Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013 file photo provided by Greenpeace, Greenpeace International activist Sini Saarela of Finland stands in a cage at the Leninsky District Court of Murmansk, Russia. (AP Photo/Greenpeace, File)

MOSCOW – Greenpeace says two of its activists who were detained after protesting at a Russian oil platform have been charged with piracy.

The environmental group said in a statement Thursday that a Brazilian activist and a British videographer have been formally charged with piracy.

If found guilty they could face up to 15 years in prison.

The Russian Coast Guard seized a Greenpeace ship and all 30 people,including two Canadians, on board following the Sept. 18 protest at an offshore platform in the Arctic owned by Russian state-controlled energy giant Gazprom.

Canadian crew member Paul Douglas Ruzycki, of Port Colborne, Ont., was serving as the ship’s chief mate, and Montrealer Alexandre Paul, 35, was also on board.

The activists are all in custody in the northern city of Murmansk.

_ With files from The Canadian Press.

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