A group of environmental activists today held a protest outside Russian Embassy here demanding immediate release of demonstrators who were arrested in the Arctic by Russian authorities.
Activists from NGO Greenpeace held the stir outside the embassy holding placards bearing messages like 'Save the Arctic - Free our activists'.
They also submitted a letter addressed to the Russian ambassador regarding their demand for the release of the demonstrators and crew, who were arrested yesterday.
A release from the protesters said that it was now over 12 hours since Greenpeace International has had any contact with the ship. No formal confirmation of possible charges had been received and the activists have been denied access to legal or consular assistance, it added.
They said that Greenpeace International was in the Russian Arctic to bear witness to and express non-violent opposition against oil companies' destructive and reckless drilling plans.
"Our peaceful protest was met with extreme and disproportionate force from the Russian Coast Guard, who on Wednesday fired 11 warning shots at our ship, the MY Arctic Sunrise, and threatened our activists with knives and guns," said Samit Aich, Executive Director, Greenpeace India.
"As an organisation committed to absolute non-violence, we find it deplorable to experience such a form of illegal intimidation and strongly condemn such behaviour," he said.
