ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Greenpeace says the two Canadian activists held in Russia after an Arctic protest in September have been released from custody.
Paul Ruzycki of Port Colborne, Ont., and Alexandre Paul of Montreal are among those from the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise who were released today.
Nicole Paul, Alexandre Paul's mother, said she wanted to hold her son in her arms as soon as possible.
Patti Stirling, Ruzycki's sister, called word of her brother's release the best news her family has had in a long time and said it means part of a nightmare is over.
The comments from Stirling and Nicole Paul were released through Greenpeace.
The two Canadians from the Arctic Sunrise were among 30 people from the ship who were arrested following an anti-oil drilling protest in Arctic waters two months ago.
All 30 face hooliganism charges, which carry sentences of up to seven years. It remained unclear whether the foreigners, who have no Russian visas, would be allowed to leave the country.
Also today, A UN-mandated tribunal in Germany has ordered Russia to immediately release the Greenpeace ship and its crew in return for a 3.6 million euro ($5 million) bond.
Greenpeace said the conditions of Ruzycki's bail were not yet fully known.
