BERLIN
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea based in Germany’s Hamburg city has ordered that (the Netherlands flagged) vessel Arctic Sunrise – Greenpeace’s ship held by Russian federation after a group of activists tried to climb on a petrol platform belonged to Russia – and all persons detained in connection with the dispute to be immediately released.
Tribunal’s order also said the Netherlands will pay Russian Federation a bond or other financial security of 3,600,000 euros in the form of bank guarantee.
The Netherlands had applied to the Tribunal when Russia detained 30 Greenpeace activists, including a Turkish member, Gizem Akhan, following the demonstration targeted Gazprom’s oil reconnaissance operations in Northern Sea on September 19.
Russian coast guards also seized the activists’ ship, Arctic Sunshine.
A press release appeared on the web site of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea said, “The Russian Federation informed the Tribunal by note verbale from the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Berlin dated October 22, 2013 that it did not intend to participate in the proceedings before the Tribunal.”
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is an independent judicial body established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to adjudicate disputes arising out of the interpretation and application of the Convention.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
