Climate Action Network Letter to President Putin demanding release of the imprisoned Greenpeace activists

Vladimir Putin
President
Russian Federation

RE: Greenpeace Activists

Dear President Putin,

Climate Action Network (CAN) is a global network of over 850 organisations from over 100 countries, working together to fight climate change. Our membership includes environmental organisations, aid and development organisations, faith-­‐based organisations and others, including many Russian NGOs. CAN has observer status at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations General Assembly, and several other international bodies. CAN-­‐Rac Canada is the Canadian node of CAN and consists of over 90 organizations from across Canada, collectively representing millions of Canadians.

Our members have learnt with dismay that the Dutch registered MY Arctic Sunrise, a peaceful vessel belonging to Greenpeace, which is one of our member organisations, was recently boarded in international waters, and that the 28 Greenpeace activists and 2 journalists on board are now being charged with piracy offences. Our members in Canada are particularly concerned with the imprisonment in Russia of two Canadians, Paul Ruzycki of Port Colborne, Ontario and Alexandre Paul of Montreal, Quebec.

We are confident that any charge of piracy against peaceful activists is completely unjustified. As you yourself have rightly said, it is clear that these protesters are not guilty of piracy, either under Russian or international law. We appeal to you therefore to ensure their immediate release.

Yours sincerely,

Wael Hmaidan, Director, Climate Action Network International
Christian Holz, Executive Director, Climate Action Network Canada – Réseau action climat Canada