An international tribunal has ordered Russia to free all members of the Greenpeace “Arctic 30” and allow their return home. The group of 28 activists and two journalists were jailed for two months until last week for trying to stop Russian oil drilling in the Arctic. All but one are now free on bail, but will likely have to remain in Russia until their trial. On Friday, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea called for the Arctic 30’s unconditional release upon payment of a 3.6 milion euro bond. Greenpeace executive director Kumi Naidoo welcomed the ruling.

Kumi Naidoo: “We are happy that in fact the tribunal has ruled in our favor. We have always maintained that our activists acted peacefully, they acted legally, and that they should never have been imprisoned in the first place. So, essentially, the reality is that 30 people, who took peaceful, courageous action, have already spent two months in prison for a crime that they did not commit.”

Russia has rejected the tribunal’s ruling, saying it does not have jurisdiction. The Arctic 30 face charges of “hooliganism” which carry up to seven years in prison.