Greenpeace Protest: Britons Released On Bail

Three Britons have been freed on bail after they were arrested following attempts by Greenpeace to occupy an oil platform in the Arctic.

Activist Alexandra Harris was the first to be given the news at a court in St Petersburg after spending two months in custody following the protest at the Prirazlomnaya platform in September.

Journalist Keiron Bryan was released about an hour later and a second British activist Anthony Perrett was told he could go free just before 3.30pm UK time.

Journalist Kieron Bryan shows his relief at the news

It is not immediately clear what will happen next, but it is understood that it is unlikely any of the group will be allowed to leave Russia.

All still face charges relating to the initial protest, during which the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise engaged in a non-violent attempt to disrupt Arctic drilling activities by a Russian oil company.

Mr Perrett was given the news as the first of the so-called Arctic 30 - 28 activists and two journalists who were arrested by Russia two months ago - walked free from jail.

British activist Iain Rogers was denied bail at a hearing in October

As she heard the news, Ms Harris skipped for joy and said: "This has been the hardest experience of my life. I'm really happy. It's not over yet but there's light at the end of the tunnel.

"It's nice the Russians made the right decision. I love my parents and look forward to speaking to them soon."

Ms Harris' father Chris said: "We're incredibly proud of how she has conducted herself throughout this ordeal.

Russian special forces arrested the protesters at gunpoint in September

"I can see when she came into court she was smiling and happy as she'd heard the news the others had been granted bail, but as the hearing progressed she became emotional.

"I think she'll make her own mind up what she does in life. She's always been passionate about the Arctic and we're proud of her.

After his release Mr Bryan said: "This has been really difficult and it has been made a lot easier hearing how much support I have in the UK. To my family, 'I love you and I hope to see you soon'."

The ship's Captain, Pete Willcox, was also freed on bail

Speaking of his detention, he said: "I had a couple of phone calls with my girlfriend and that's it. It's the worst possible isolation.

"The conditions were terrible in Murmansk. I think we're very lucky in the UK. Things were better in St Petersburg because they decorated my cell and made it look nice."

Mr Bryan said the moment of his arrest when Russian special forces abseiled onto the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise was like something out of a Hollywood movie.

Anthony Perrett before he learned that his bail application was successful

"They didn't declare who they were they just pointed their guns at us and took over the ship. I had no idea it was going to carry on like this. If I knew that was the beginning of this nightmare I would have behaved differently."

The group were initially charged with piracy but are now accused of hooliganism, which carries a maximum jail term of seven years.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Birgitte Lesanner said she was "proud" of the protesters, including six Britons, and said their resilience had been "amazing".

Earlier, as she was led into the courtroom by police, Ms Harris told supporters she felt "trapped inside a political game".

Brazilian Greenpeace activist Anna Paula as she is freed from jail on bail

Speaking from inside a metal cage, she told Sky News correspondent Katie Stallard: "I will not dishonour Greenpeace or my country by trying to flee Russia or the investigation."

Ms Harris, whose bail was set at two million rubles (£38,098), said she was nervous and that the past two months had been "horrible".

"When I talk about the last two months, it's hard not to get emotional," she said.

"The conditions (in prison) at first were awful and the food was disgusting.

"They're better now but it's still prison. I'm still trapped, I can't speak to anyone (and I'm) cut off from the world. It's no better."

Ms Harris' father said her family were overjoyed at news of her release

All 30 people aboard the Arctic Sunrise were detained after the protest in September. Six of them were British.

A fourth Briton, Iain Rogers, the Arctic Sunrise engineer, was refused bail at a hearing in October.

Russian courts have granted bail this week to a total of 17 of the detainees and hearings are scheduled for another 12.

Brazilian Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel was the first to leave detention, walking out of a St Petersburg pre-trial jail holding a sign reading "Save The Arctic."

However, Australian activist Colin Russell was denied bail at an earlier hearing and will be kept in detention until February.

:: Watch Sky News for live coverage of the hearing.

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