A conference will be held today (Wednesday 16th October) for the families of the 15 UK Greenpeace activists charged with piracy by Russian authorities.

Activists were involved in a peaceful protest against the Gazprom Arctic drilling platform, Prirazlomnaya, where two of the crew of the Arctic Sunrise tried to climb the side of the platform to hang a protest banner.

One of the activists was former Caldicot town councillor Anthony Perrett. Antony, who served as a volunteer for SARA (Severn Area Rescue Association) in Chepstow before the incident, is in court in Murmansk today requesting bail, although this seems unlikely to be granted as every other of the activists appeals for bail were so far rejected.

The activists are rumoured to be facing ten years in prison.

The 15 UK activists were formally charged with piracy, despite Russian President Vlademir Putin publically rejecting the notion that they were pirates.

On the 8th October, 18 pages of signatures from Russian journalists requested the release of freelance photographer Denis Sinyakov on bail but the request was refused by the Regional Court of Murmansk.

Appeals to request bail for other activists were also rejected by the court. Further cases requesting bail will be heard later in the week.

Greenpeace have responded on their website to allegations made by the Russian Investigative Committee that narcotics were found on board Arctic Sunrise: "We can only assume the Russian authorities are referring to the medical supplies that our ships are obliged to carry under maritime law.

"The ship was first searched by Russian officers weeks ago; they scoured ever corner of it, so we assume this announcement is designed to deflect attention from the growing global outrage over the continued imprisonment of the detainees. Any claim that illegal drugs were found is a smear, it's a fabrication, pure and simple."

Greenpeace has generated further support for the prisoners by running a petition on their website asking for the public to send a letter to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United Kingdom, Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko.

As the Beacon went to press, the petition had a response of more than 1,360,000 emails sent in support of freeing the activists.

Show your support by signing the petition at http://www.greenpeace.org.uk">www.greenpeace.org.uk