More Greenpeace Activists Granted Bail

Greenpeace activists hold flags reading "Free the Arctic 30" as they go past the Kremlin by boat earlier this month.

A court in St. Petersburg has granted bail to five more Greenpeace activists.

Frank Hewetson and Iain Rogers of Britain, Ruslan Yakushev of Ukraine, Gizem Akhan of Turkey, and Jonathan Beauchamp of New Zealand will be released after bail of 2 million rubles ($61,300) is paid for each.

So far this week, the court has granted bail to 26 Greenpeace activists who were among the 30 people from 18 countries arrested after a protest in September at a Gazprom oil rig in the Arctic. Four of those granted bail have left the jail in St. Petersburg.

One of the arrested activists, Colin Russell, an Australian, was remanded into custody until February 24.

Russia initially charged the 28 activists and two journalists with piracy, which carries up to 15 years in jail. The charges were later changed to hooliganism, which can be punished by up to seven years.