Brazilian and NZ activists granted bail in Arctic 30 case

Brazilian and New Zealand activists granted bail in Arctic 30 case

Amsterdam, November 19th -  Two Greenpeace activists was today granted bail in St Petersburg, becoming the fourth and fifth of the so-called Arctic 30 to be told they will soon be released. Brazilian Ana Paula Maciels, 31, and David Haussmann from New Zealand, 49, from New Zealand were told they will be released from jail if they can provide financial surety within four days.

The development came the day after three Russian activists were told on Monday 18 November they would be released from prison and, on the same day, an Australian activist was refused bail and ordered to return to jail until February 24. No reason for the different treatment was given by the courts.

Ana Paula’s mother Rosangela Maciel said this morning:

"This is the most lovely news I’ve got in the last two months, but justice will only be done when all the absurd charges are dropped. A person who only does good for the planet, like my daughter, must be recognised by their actions, not unjustly accused. This is the only
way we can keep the faith in the future."

Commenting on the development in the Primorskiy District Court, Kumi Naidoo of Greenpeace said:

“In the space of two mornings we have had good news and bad, and the good news comes with a warning. We still have no idea what conditions our friends will endure when they are released from jail, whether they will be held under house arrest or even allowed outside. What we do know for certain is that they are still charged and could spend years behind bars if they are convicted for a crime they did not commit. And we remain baffled and heartbroken that our colleague Colin was refused bail and sent back to prison for three months. The Arctic 30 will not be free until every last one of them is back home with their families.”

Ana Paula is a 31-year-old biologist and a crewmember on Greenpeace ships. She is the youngest of her three siblings and has been with Greenpeace since 2006, when she first began volunteering for the organisation in Brazil. David has spent all his life in rural New Zealand enjoying the outdoors lifestyle and working as a electrician. While working in Port Nelson, in 1999, he was introduced to Greenpeace and shortly after joined the Greenpeace ship 'Rainbow Warrior' as an electrical engineer. He has worked on countless campaigns whilst sailing for the past 13 years, some with his partner Sarah.

Prosecutors in court are not seeking extension of detention for piracy — the original charge brought against the 30. However, formal withdrawal of the piracy charge requires a written statement. Lawyers for the detainees have petitioned for such a statement but it has not been given — indicating that this is a policy decision and not an oversight by the authorities.

ENDS

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