Greenpeace makes 'Arctic 30' protest in Warsaw

Greenpeace activists unfurl a protest banner from Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

“Save the Arctic! Free our activists!” the banner proclaims.

Activists hooked the yellow banner to a much larger, officially endorsed one promoting the 19th UN Climate Change Conference (COP19), which closes on Friday in Warsaw.

Police had tried to prevent the Greenpeace members from installing the additional banner, detaining as many as 34 activists at the site this morning.

However, several members managed to barricade themselves into one of the skyscraper's rooms, before clambering out onto the facade.

The Palace of Culture and Science was intended as a gift from Moscow, after a communist regime was installed in Poland after World War II. Construction began in 1952.

Bail

Meanwhile, Polish Greenpeace activist Tomasz Dziemianczuk is expected to be transferred to the Polish consulate in St Petersburg, after being granted bail on Tuesday.

Brazilian Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel was the first of the Arctic 30 to leave prison, departing on Wednesday, after her bail payment of 2 million rubles (about 50,000 euro) was made by Greenpeace.

However, not all of the activists have been granted bail: Australian activist Colin Russell must remain in prison for a further three months.

The activists still face up to 7 years in prison if found guilty of hooliganism in connection with Greenpeace's bid to scale Russia's offshore Prirazlomnaya oil rig on 18 September.

The group originally faced stiffer penalties, before initial charges of piracy were changed to hooliganism. (nh)

Source: PAP