EX-Caldicot councillor Anthony Perrett was granted bail yesterday (20th November) by Russian authorities.

Mr Perrett, one of the Arctic 30, was arrested following his involvement in a peaceful protest against the Gazprom Arctic drilling platform, Prirazlomnaya.

Mr Perrett has been charged with hooliganism and, if found guilty, could face up to seven years in prison.

Mr Perrett's partner, Zahara Ally, said: "I am relieved that Anthony has been granted bail. His life in Wales is heavily focused on the outdoors so he would have found the two months in a cell for 23 hours a day very difficult.

"The uncertainty of the Russian legal system has also been very unclear but I feel that the bail being approved is a step in the right direction.

"Bail will make communications easier and the detention period more comfortable.

"It has been a very intense and emotional two months but unfortunately it's not over yet. The conditions of bail are not yet known and Anthony still officially faces serious charges.

"I am thankful for all the invaluable support that I've received from the community, friends, family, colleagues, MP Jessica Morden and MP Paul Flynn.

"It's important that all efforts are continued to safeguard the release of Anthony and all of the Arctic 30."

Sir Paul McCartney has published his personal correspondence to Vladimir Putin, in which the ex-Beatle calls for the Arctic 30 to be reunited with their families.

McCartney said: "45 years ago I wrote a song about Russia for the White Album, back when it wasn't fashionable for English people to say nice things about your country. That song had one of my favourite Beatles lines in it: 'Been away so long I hardly knew the place, gee it's good to be back home.' Could you make that come true for the Greenpeace prisoners?"

Dame Vivienne Westwood has also shown her support for the release of the Arctic 30 by unveiling giant portraits of the activists.