Russia Grants Exit Visas to Greenpeace Activists

Authorities in Russia have issued exit visas to 14 of the 30 Greenpeace members who were arrested and detained more than two months ago, allowing them to leave the country.

The move came after charges were dropped against them over a protest outside an Arctic oil rig.

The first of the activists left the country on Thursday after the exit visas were issued while the rest are expecting to get clearance to leave.

Soviet-born Swedish activist Dima Litvinov crossed the Finnish border after receiving an exit stamp in his passport.

In a statement, he said “Now I’m going home to my bed, my wife, my kids and my life.” “I’m leaving Russia feeling like we won something here.”

Reports said Russia’s treatment of the 30 activists from 18 countries had drawn heavy criticism from Western nations and celebrities. The activists spent two months in detention and faced hooliganism charges punishable by seven years in jail.

The “Arctic 30” were arrested in September following a protest outside a Russian oil rig in the Arctic and spent two months in jail before they were granted bail in November.

Charges of hooliganism against them were later dropped after Russia’s parliament issued an amnesty that was seen as an attempt by the Kremlin to assuage the criticism of Russia’s human rights record before the Winter Olympics in Sochi in February, Aljazeera.net reported.

Source: Aljazeera.net

Image Credit: www.aljazeera.com