Netherlands Wasn’t Given Enough Time To Stop Greenpeace Activists

Testifying Monday at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg, Germany, the Netherlands rejected Russian claims of inaction against Greenpeace activists. Dutch officials said Russian did not give the Netherlands enough to stop Greenpeace activists, United Press International reports Wednesday. Arctic Sunrise / Flickr The activists, including two Dutch, were arrested in September during a protest at an Arctic Sea oil platform run by an affiliate of Gazprom. The Russian coast guard seized Greenpeace ship and arrested 28 activists and two reporters aboard it. Last month, the Netherlands filed a suit at the sea tribunal seeking the release of the activists who initially were charged with piracy, but later the Russian investigators downgraded the charges to hooliganism. According to Russia, the Netherlands government was responsible for stopping the Greenpeace ship. Last week, Russia accused the Netherlands of inaction against activists, UPI said. In testimony submitted to the tribunal, the Netherlands said the Russians only informed it they intended to arrest the activists one day before the seizure, making it impossible for the Netherlands to “take appropriate action,” the De Telegraaf reported. The tribunal is expected to make a decision this month.