Saturday, November 9, 2013 - 00:03
Council Kremlin: release Greenpeace crew
The official Human Rights Council of the Russian government insists the crew of the Arctic Sunrise be released, stated council chairman Mikhail Fedotov, Friday, reported the news agency Itar-Tass.
The Russian coast guard boarded the Arctic Sunrise on September 19 after a protest against oil drilling in waters off Russia's northern coast, of which Russia did not approve. The crew of 30 was arrested and is detained in Russia.
Greenpeace released video footage Friday of the entering of the ship by Russian soldiers.
In the meantime Russia may have the upper hand in the case surrounding the captured Greenpeace activists, according to maritime lawyer Hein Kernkamp to news agency BNR. The International Tribunal will rule on 22 November.
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Bicycle Bob
Wikimedia commons During the session of the tribunal, the judges, among whom one Russian, asked critical questions about the activities Greenpeace conducted around the drilling platform of Gazprom, the Russian state oil company. They really zoomed in on the incident with the rubber boats, according to Kernkamp, which is not a favorable signal for the environmentalists. The judges were particularly interested in the violations committed by Greenpeace. The Russian judge specifically asked Daniël Simons , the legal council of Greenpeace, if it was explained beforehand to the activists they would be violating Article 60 of the International Maritime Law and the laws of the Russian Federation. Under the Treaty, there is a safety zone of at least five hundred meters around objects at sea . Entering that zone is just not done, but is was, according to Kernkamp. The Russian judge even mentioned entering the Gazprom ship. Thursday Netherlands must answer in writing who made the decision to execute the Greenpeace protest. Ruling will follow on November 22. Kernkamp estimates the chances of Netherlands lower than that of the Russians . He feels the Netherlands beat around the bush, while the judges zoomed in on the real problem. Even with a favorable judgment it remains the question whether the crew will be released. Russia previously announced not to recognize the jurisdiction of the Sea Tribunal in this case by relying on its own sovereignty . There was no Russian delegation present during the trial.
![[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"26396","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-medium wp-image-6513","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"225","alt":"Greenpeace"}}]]](http://www.nltimes.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Greenpeace_Arctic_Sunrise.jpg){kind=link}
Bicycle Bob
Wikimedia commons During the session of the tribunal, the judges, among whom one Russian, asked critical questions about the activities Greenpeace conducted around the drilling platform of Gazprom, the Russian state oil company. They really zoomed in on the incident with the rubber boats, according to Kernkamp, which is not a favorable signal for the environmentalists. The judges were particularly interested in the violations committed by Greenpeace. The Russian judge specifically asked Daniël Simons , the legal council of Greenpeace, if it was explained beforehand to the activists they would be violating Article 60 of the International Maritime Law and the laws of the Russian Federation. Under the Treaty, there is a safety zone of at least five hundred meters around objects at sea . Entering that zone is just not done, but is was, according to Kernkamp. The Russian judge even mentioned entering the Gazprom ship. Thursday Netherlands must answer in writing who made the decision to execute the Greenpeace protest. Ruling will follow on November 22. Kernkamp estimates the chances of Netherlands lower than that of the Russians . He feels the Netherlands beat around the bush, while the judges zoomed in on the real problem. Even with a favorable judgment it remains the question whether the crew will be released. Russia previously announced not to recognize the jurisdiction of the Sea Tribunal in this case by relying on its own sovereignty . There was no Russian delegation present during the trial.