Google – AFP, 23 October 2013
Moscow —
Russia said Wednesday it had reduced piracy charges against the detained crew
of Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise protest ship to "hooliganism", which
carries a lesser sentence.
The
Investigative Committee said it had "taken the decision to reclassify the
crime as hooliganism".
Russia
early this month charged all 30 crewmembers of Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise
protest ship with piracy after they attempted to scale a state-owned oil
platform in a protest against drilling in the Arctic.
The piracy
charge against the crewmembers, who come from 18 different countries, attracted
international criticism.
They faced
up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of piracy, while the new charge
carries a maximum sentence of seven years in a penal colony.
All 30 are
being held in prison pending trial after Russian border guards towed their ship
to the northern city of Murmansk.
The
Committee said the crew were charged with acting in a group and with
"using objects as weapons".
Russia also
charged the Pussy Riot punks with hooliganism after they carried out a peaceful
protest against President Vladimir Putin in a Moscow church.
Three of
the Pussy Riot members were sentenced to two years in a penal colony.
Related Articles:
Russia will not accept sea tribunal's role in Greenpeace ship case
Dutch take Russia to maritime court over Greenpeace ship
Russia will not accept sea tribunal's role in Greenpeace ship case
Dutch take Russia to maritime court over Greenpeace ship
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.