Russia Drops Charges Against Greenpeace 'Arctic 30' Activists

A group of 30 Greenpeace activists stuck in Russia awaiting trial received their freedom for Christmas this year.

The organization announced Wednesday that Russia dropped criminal hooliganism charges against each of the so-called "Arctic 30." The organization also said 14 of the group's 26 non-Russian members were cleared to leave Russia Thursday, and it expects the rest to receive clearance Friday.

The protestors were taken into custody Sept. 19 when armed Russian military members boarded their ship, the Arctic Sunrise, during a protest of oil drilling in arctic waters. The Russian government eventually reduced the charges against the group from piracy to hooliganism and released the group members on bail in November. Non-Russian members of the group were going to have to remain in the country until their trial. Read more...