Russia: Coast Guard Boards Greenpeace Ship in Arctic
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Version 0 of 1. Armed Russian Coast Guard officers boarded a Greenpeace ship that was circling an Arctic oil platform on Thursday after Moscow accused the environmentalist group of “aggressive and provocative” behavior. Greenpeace International said in a statement that “activists locked inside the radio room said they saw other activists detained on their knees with guns pointed at them.” Two Greenpeace activists scaled the side of the Gazprom-owned Prirazlomnaya platform on Wednesday and were arrested because they threatened security, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Moscow summoned the Dutch ambassador to discuss the issue. Greenpeace is based in the Netherlands, and its ship, Arctic Sunrise, which had 25 people aboard, is a Dutch-registered vessel. The group is protesting the environmental risks posed by increased efforts to tap oil and natural gas reserves in the Arctic. |