At least 20 crew have been remanded in custody in Russia for up to two months
Nautilus has written to the Russian ambassadors in the UK, Netherlands and Switzerland, expressing concern about the treatment of the Arctic Sunrise Greenpeace crew, who are in custody pending piracy charges after an Arctic drilling protest.
In theletter, general secretary Mark Dickinson said: ‘Nautilus wishes to place on record its deep concern about this case and the treatment of our members.’ He urges the ambassadors to convey to the Russian Federation the Union’s request for the release of the crew, and for the charges to be withdrawn – describing them as ‘highly in appropriate’ and ‘belittling the reality of piracy’.
At least 20 crew have been remanded in custody in Russia for up to two months while charges of piracy are investigated -an offence that carries a maximum 15-year jail term in Russia.
‘As an organisation representing merchant seafarers, we are extremely concerned to see the crew of an environmental group’s ship being exposed to such criminal allegations,’ said Mr Dickinson. ‘Piracy is a long-standing problem at sea, and in its contemporary form – most notably off the east and west coasts of Africa, and in the Far East – it has resulted in the deaths of seafarers, many hundreds being held hostage in appalling conditions, and many thousands working in fear of the prospect of attack.’
Mr Dickson commented that it was ‘generally accepted that the crime of piracy is one that involves illegal acts of violence or detention, or raids committed for private gain. We consider that exposing professional mariners and environmental protestors to such a charge is a serious misuse of a term that is widely accepted as a definition for armed robbery on the high seas.’
It was also important to emphasise the Arctic Sunrise was involved in a peaceful and non-violent protest, he added.
In the event of the crews’ continued detention, Nautilus has called for the crew to be given full access to defence lawyers, pending any possible trial, and for any allegations of excessive use of force used during the interception of the vessel and detention of the crew to be ‘fully and transparently investigated.’
Read the letter in full.
Source: Nautilus International