A Canadian Greenpeace activist jailed in Russia following a protest at an Arctic drilling rig was granted bail Tuesday, along with other members of the so-called "Arctic 30."
Paul Ruzycki, of Port Colborne, Ont., was granted bail, along with six other Greenpeace protestors from Argentina, Italy, Brazil, New Zealand and Poland. They are the first to be eligible to be released from prison while awaiting trial.
"It’s a bittersweet day. We’re very happy Paul is out of jail, but we know his first thoughts will be for the people he’s leaving behind in prison," Ruzycki’s sister, Patti Stirling, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“All of the Arctic 30, including Paul, are still facing very serious charges and we can’t for a moment think this is a victory.”
The Primorsky court in St. Petersburg set bail for all seven protestors at 2 million rubles, or $61,500, each. Ruzycki is expected to have his hearing on Thursday.
There is no word yet on whether Montrealer Alexandre Paul, also among the group of protestors, will be given bail.
Both Canadians were arrested on Sept. 18 when Russian paramilitaries stormed their Greenpeace ship over a protest taking place just off a floating rig operated by state-owned Gazprom.
The protestors aboard the Arctic Sunrise were initially charged with piracy but investigators later reduced the charge to hooliganism.
Ruzycki's sister, who has been fighting for the release of the Greenpeace protestors, said early Tuesday that she hasn't heard much news from her brother.
"I've been up since 3 a.m. this morning watching it live on a Russian video feed and one by one, they're being given bail," Stirling told CTV's Canada AM on Tuesday before the announcement that her brother was granted bail. "But those conditions of bail likely mean that they will be under house arrest, they'll be detained there until another court appearance happens."
She said communication with her brother since his arrest has been "incredibly limited" and she's only exchanged a few short emails with him -- including one four weeks ago describing the "deplorable" living conditions of the prison.
"The windows in the prison didn't close, one small sheet, one shower once a week in order to stay clean and drinking water that has to be sterilized in order to have a cup of water," Stirling said.
Last week, the Greenpeace protestors were transferred to a prison in St. Petersburg.
Stirling said she has so far received very little support from the Canadian government.
"We've had absolutely no response from John Baird himself," she said.
"Consular affairs in Ottawa and in Russia have been wonderful to the family. They're in communication every couple of days but we can't seem to get a political statement out of Mr. Baird simply asking, as so many other world leaders have, can we have clemency can we please have a speedy release of entire 'Arctic 30.'"
Greenpeace Canada on Tuesday renewed its call for Ottawa to take action on behalf of the two jailed Canadian Greenpeace activists.
"Paul Ruzycki shouldn’t have been jailed in the first place, and the same goes for our friend and colleague Alexandre Paul," executive director of Greenpeace Canada Joanna Kerr said in the statement. "We’re renewing our call to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird to speak up for the Arctic 30 and take action on behalf of Paul and Alexandre."
The group says in the last three weeks, more than 16,000 people have signed a petition asking Baird to publicly demand the release of the Arctic 30.
With files from The Associated Press
