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Greenpeace says it will appeal Russian detention of activists

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Greenpeace International charged Friday the detention of its activists in Russia violates international law and said it would appeal immediately.

The Russians arrested 30 people, 28 activists and two freelance photographers, after a protest action aimed at a Gazprom oil rig in the Arctic Sea. Russian authorities say the group may have committed an act of piracy.

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The Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise was towed into Murmansk Sept. 19.

A court in Murmansk ordered 22 of the group held for two months while the other eight are to be held pending another hearing in three days.

"These detentions are like the Russian oil industry itself, a relic from an earlier era," Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo said. "Our peaceful activists are in prison tonight for shining a light on Gazprom's recklessness. The Arctic is melting before our eyes, and these brave activists stand in defiance of those who wish to exploit this unfolding crisis to drill for more oil."

The oil rig was outside of Russian territorial waters but in Russia's 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Greenpeace says the Arctic Sunrise was boarded in violation of international law.

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