"MOSCOW -- Eleven Nobel Peace Prize laureates urged Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to drop piracy charges against 30 people detained over a Greenpeace protest last month at an Arctic oil rig."

"The piracy charges, punishable by up to 15 years' jail, appear aimed at sending a message that Moscow will not tolerate attempts to disrupt its development of the resource-rich Arctic.

Russian authorities have ordered the activists to remain in pre-trial detention until Nov. 24 and the courts have already denied bail to 16 of them. Hearings for the remaining activists are expected in the coming days."

Gabriela Baczynska reports for Reuters October 17, 2013. [2]

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"Greenpeace Activist's Father Tells of Shock at Detention in Russia" (Guardian) [3]