Finland Times

 

President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö, visited the Youth Activity Centre at Kontula in Helsinki on Wednesday. Photo - Lehtikuva

The Prime Minister, Jyrki Katainen on Wednesday said that Finland would not consider the legal action taken against Greenpeace activists by Russia from the political point of view but the detention of Finnish environmentalist would be dealt with at administrative level.

 

“We  do not want to politicise the matter, because we also do not allow other countries to politicise our judicial processes,” said Katainen while addressing an occasion, adding that it would be wise to deal the issue at administrative levels of the two countries to get an amicable solution.

 

“We will provide the Finnish national with necessary consular services there and the service already started from the initial stage of the detention,” said the Premier.

 

Greenpeace activist Sini Saarela, charged with terrorism and conducting illegal scientific and research activities, during a hearing at Murmansk's Leninsky Court. Photo RIA Novosti-Lehtikuva

Although the Prime Minister termed the prosecution charges brought against the Greenpeace activists as very serious, he said that the final verdict and prosecution allegations are different things.

 

“But the charge of piracy brought against the Greenpeace activists  is not acceptable in anyway,” said Katainen, adding that Finland is maintaining communications with the countries of other victims who are also in imprisonment in Russia.

 

Meanwhile, the president, Sauli Niinistö on Wednesday advised the Finnish Greenpeace activist, Sini Saarela to keep patience and wait for disposal of the issue.

 

Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen speaking at the parliament on Wednesday. Photo - Lehtikuva

“It is interesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who himself is a lawyer, acknowledged that it was not piracy,” said the Finland president while visiting the Helsinki Youth Centre, adding that although his Russian counterpart termed the activities dangerous for the workers rigging oil in the sea.

 

Niinistö said that the activities of Greenpeace activists never can be treated as pirates, although he said that the concept of piracy could be different in different countries and Russia might use it in a wider perspective.

 

He said that Saarela took the risk after being informed about the consequence of the operation and so she should wait with patience.

 

Russian authority detained the Greenpeace Ship ‘Arctic Sunrise’ at Murmansk in Russia. Photo - Lehtikuva.

The President, however, assured that he was taking update of the situation continuously from the ministry of foreign affairs and directly from Russia.

 

The Russian authority on September 29 sent the Finnish environment activist of the Greenpeace, Sini Saarela and others to two-month pre-trial detention in custody till November 24, environmental organization Greenpeace said.

 

Earlier, the Russian coastguards on September 18 seized the Greenpeace ship with 30 environmentalists including a Finnish on board when they went to measure an oil platform of state-run energy giant Gazprom in South Barents Sea in Arctic.