Turkish Greenpeace activist Gizem Akhan comes out of Russian jail

ISTANBUL

Gizem thanked the massice support from all across the world. Greenpeace photo

Gizem Akhan, one of the Greenpeace activists who has been released on bail by a Russian court after spending two months in prison for staging a demonstration in the Arctic, exited jail on Nov. 22.

“Of course I am very happy. We have been through a hardship but despite being free, the trial has not ended yet,” said Akhan, who was detained along with 29 other Greenpeace activists after Russian security forces seized the ship Arctic 30 on Sept. 19.

“I hope they will understand that we are not hooligans but a group of people who are concerned about the world’s future and that justice will be served,” she said. 

Russia’s Investigative Committee said it was softening the charges against the crewmembers of the Arctic 30 from piracy to hooliganism, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years.

President Vladimir Putin said Nov. 21 that the group of activists had “noble motives” but that they broke the law when they climbed onto an oil drilling platform in the Arctic Sea. 

It is yet unclear if Akhan and the other activists released on bail are banned from traveling. The released 26 activists will stay at a safe place provided by Greenpeace, the organization said.