The Wireless

Not pirates, but hooligans?

09:44 am on 24 October 2013

Russia has dropped piracy charges against 30 people involved in a Greenpeace protest over Arctic oil drilling, replacing them with lesser charges. The 30, including two New Zealanders, now face charges of hooliganism, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison. A spokesperson for Greenpeace in The Netherlands says it is still a "disproportionate accusation" - the punk protest band Pussy Riot was charged with the same thing.