Greenpeacefr
The Eiffel Tower was briefly closed this morning after a Greenpeace activist suspended himself from the French landmark to call for the release of 30 people who have spent more than a month in a Russian jail over a protest against oil drilling in the Arctic.
After lowering himself from the second tier of the tower, the man unfurled a large yellow sign saying: "Free the Arctic 30." He was brought down about two hours later by firemen without incident.
Moscow has sparked an international outcry over its heavy-handed response after two Greenpeace activists in September scaled a state-owned oil platform to protest against Russian energy exploration in the Arctic.
It detained 30 crew members of the Dutch-flagged icebreaker Arctic Sunrise, including two journalists, in the northern Murmansk region.
Original charges of piracy against the group were lessened on Wednesday to hooliganism, which still carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
The group wants French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault to press for the group's release when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin next week.
The media stunt in Paris accompanies a campaign in the metro, where posters show the activists in a small inflatable boat alongside the massive oil platform.
"They are powerful. We are determined," reads the poster.
Cyrille Cormier, a Greenpeace campaigner, told AFP: "We are here to send a message to the French government to do everything to secure the release of the 28 militants and two journalists."
"Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault is due to visit Russia next week. We are asking him to put this case on the agenda," he added.
Greenpeace protests
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Greenpeace activists demonstrate near the Russian embassy in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. They are demonstrating against the ruling of a Russian court that led to the jailing of the environmental group's activists for a protest, by Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, near an oil platform in the Arctic. On Thursday, the court in the city of Murmansk jailed 22 members of the Greenpeace team who were protesting near the platform last week. The demonstrators are holding photos of the activists who were aboard the Arctic Sunrise.(AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere) (credit:AP)
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Greenpeace activists demonstrate near the Russian embassy in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. They are demonstrating against the ruling of a Russian court that led to the jailing of the environmental group's activists for a protest, by Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, near an oil platform in the Arctic. On Thursday, the court in the city of Murmansk jailed 22 members of the Greenpeace team who were protesting near the platform last week. The demonstrators are holding photos of the activists who were aboard the Arctic Sunrise.(AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere) (credit:AP)
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Ukrainian news photographers hold posters in support of Russian photographer Denis Sinyakov during a protest outside the Russian Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. On Thursday, the court in the northern Russian city of Murmansk jailed 28 Greenpeace activists who protested last week near a drilling platform owned by the Russian state energy giant, Gazprom, along with freelance Russian photographer Denis Sinyakov and a freelance British videographer. Greenpeace says it will appeal the Russian court rulings that sent its activists to jail for the protest against drilling in the Arctic. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov) (credit:AP)
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Ukrainian news photographers hold posters in support of Russian photographer Denis Sinyakov during a protest outside the Russian Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. On Thursday, the court in the northern Russian city of Murmansk jailed 28 Greenpeace activists who protested last week near a drilling platform owned by the Russian state energy giant, Gazprom, along with freelance Russian photographer Denis Sinyakov and a freelance British videographer. Greenpeace says it will appeal the Russian court rulings that sent its activists to jail for the protest against drilling in the Arctic. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov) (credit:AP)
Phil Radford, Peter Willcox(05 of40)
Greenpeace US Executive Director Phil Radford holds a photo of Peter Willcox, ship's captain of the Rainbow Warrior, that Radford says is of Willcox in a preliminary hearing in Murmansk, Russia, during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, to discuss the status of Greenpeace activists being held in Murmansk, Russia following a protest at a Gazprom oil rig in the Pechora Sea in Russia's Exclusive Economic Zone. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (credit:AP)
Kumi Naidoo(06 of40)
Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo gestures while speaking during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, to discuss the status of Greenpeace activists being held in Murmansk, Russia following a protest at a Gazprom oil rig in the Pechora Sea in Russia's Exclusive Economic Zone. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (credit:AP)
Kumi Naidoo, Phil Radford(07 of40)
Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo, left, accompanied by Greenpeace US Executive Director Phil Radford, gestures while speaking during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, to discuss the status of Greenpeace activists being held in Murmansk, Russia following a protest at a Gazprom oil rig in the Pechora Sea in Russia's Exclusive Economic Zone. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (credit:AP)
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Greenpeace activists demonstrate near the Russian embassy in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. They are demonstrating against the ruling of a Russian court that led to the jailing of the environmental group's activists for a protest, by Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, near an oil platform in the Arctic. On Thursday, the court in the city of Murmansk jailed 22 members of the Greenpeace team who were protesting near the platform last week. The demonstrators are holding photos of the activists who were aboard of the Arctic Sunrise.(AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere) (credit:AP)
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Greenpeace activists demonstrate in front of the Russian embassy, visible in background, in Paris, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. They are demonstrating against the ruling of a Russian court that led to the jailing of the environmental group's activists for a protest, by Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, near an oil platform in the Arctic. On Thursday, the court in the city of Murmansk jailed 22 members of the Greenpeace team who were protesting near the platform last week. The demonstrators are holding photos of the activists who were aboard of the Arctic Sunrise.(AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere) (credit:AP)
Ivan Blokov, Vladimir Chuprov(10 of40)
Greenpeace Russia campaign director, Ivan Blokov, right, and the head of the energy department at Greenpeace Russia, Vladimir Chuprov, left, attend a news conference in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. Greenpeace says it will appeal the Russian court rulings that sent its activists to jail for a protest near an oil platform in the Arctic. On Thursday, the court in the northern Russian city of Murmansk jailed 28 Greenpeace activists who protested last week near the platform owned by the Russian state energy giant, Gazprom, along with a freelance Russian photographer and a freelance British videographer. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (credit:AP)
Ivan Blokov, Vladimir Chuprov(11 of40)
Greenpeace Russia campaign director, Ivan Blokov, right, and the head of the energy department at Greenpeace Russia, Vladimir Chuprov, left, attend a news conference in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. Greenpeace says it will appeal the Russian court rulings that sent its activists to jail for a protest near an oil platform in the Arctic. On Thursday, the court in the northern Russian city of Murmansk jailed 28 Greenpeace activists who protested last week near the platform owned by the Russian state energy giant, Gazprom, along with a freelance Russian photographer and a freelance British videographer. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (credit:AP)
Ivan Blokov, Vladimir Chuprov(12 of40)
El director de campaña de Greenpeace en Rusia, Ivan Blokov, a la derecha, junto con el director de temas energéticos de la agrupación, Vladimir Chuprov, a la izquierda, hablan en una conferencia de prensa en Moscú el 27 de septiembre del 2013. Greenpeace dijo que apelará la decisión de encarcelar a sus activistas en Rusia por un acto de protesta en el Artico. (Foto AP/Sergei Grits) (credit:AP)
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Greenpeace activists demonstrate in front of the Russian consulate general in Hong Kong Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. The activists protested against the rulings of a Russian court that led to the jailing of the environmental group's activists for a protest near an oil platform in the Arctic. On Thursday, the court in the city of Murmansk jailed 22 members of the Greenpeace team who were protesting near the platform last week. Greenpeace said in a statement Friday that it will appeal and is seeking the crew's immediate release. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) (credit:AP)
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Greenpeace activists demonstrate in front of the Russian consulate general in Hong Kong Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. The activists protested against the rulings of a Russian court that led to the jailing of the environmental group's activists for a protest near an oil platform in the Arctic. On Thursday, the court in the city of Murmansk jailed 22 members of the Greenpeace team who were protesting near the platform last week. Greenpeace said in a statement Friday that it will appeal and is seeking the crew's immediate release. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) (credit:AP)
BRAZIL-RUSSIA-GREENPEACE-DEMO(15 of40)
Greenpeace activists protest on September 27, 2013 in front of the Russian Embassy in Brasilia with banners calling for the release of 28 activists from several countries arrested and charged with piracy while protesting against the extraction of oil last week in the Arctic. AFP PHOTO / Evaristo Sa (Photo credit should read EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRAZIL-RUSSIA-GREENPEACE-DEMO(16 of40)
Greenpeace activists protest on September 27, 2013 in front of the Russian Embassy in Brasilia with banners calling for the release of 28 activists from several countries arrested and charged with piracy while protesting against the extraction of oil last week in the Arctic. AFP PHOTO / Evaristo Sa (Photo credit should read EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FRANCE-RUSSIA-OIL-ENERGY-PROTEST-ENVIRONMENT-SCIENCE-MEDIA(17 of40)
Greenpeace activists protest on September 27, 2013 in front of the Russian embassy in Paris, with signs calling for the release of activists from several countries arrested while protesting against the extraction of oil last week in the Arctic. Greenpeace on Friday vowed to appeal and not give in to intimidation after a Russian court ruled to detain all 30 crew members of a ship involved in a high seas protest against Arctic oil drilling. The Lenin district court in the northern city of Murmansk ruled yesterday that 22 crew members will remain in pre-trial detention for two months during the investigation into alleged piracy over the September 18 protest at a Gazprom oil rig. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS SAMSON (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FRANCE-RUSSIA-FEMEN-GREENPEACE(18 of40)
Activists of Ukrainian feminist movement Femen hold flares on a fly boat on the Seine river during a protest in support of 22 crew members of a Greenpeace ship in pre-trial detention in Russia, on September 27, 2013 in Paris. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR (Photo credit should read FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FRANCE-RUSSIA-FEMEN-GREENPEACE(19 of40)
Activists of Ukrainian feminist movement Femen hold flares on a fly boat on the Seine river during a protest in support of 22 crew members of a Greenpeace ship in pre-trial detention in Russia, on September 27, 2013 in Paris. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR (Photo credit should read FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FRANCE-RUSSIA-OIL-ENERGY-PROTEST-ENVIRONMENT-SCIENCE-MEDIA(20 of40)
Greenpeace activists protest on September 27, 2013 in front of the Russian embassy in Paris, with signs calling for the release of activists from several countries arrested while protesting against the extraction of oil last week in the Arctic. Greenpeace on Friday vowed to appeal and not give in to intimidation after a Russian court ruled to detain all 30 crew members of a ship involved in a high seas protest against Arctic oil drilling. The Lenin district court in the northern city of Murmansk ruled yesterday that 22 crew members will remain in pre-trial detention for two months during the investigation into alleged piracy over the September 18 protest at a Gazprom oil rig. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS SAMSON (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FRANCE-RUSSIA-OIL-ENERGY-PROTEST-ENVIRONMENT-SCIENCE-MEDIA(21 of40)
Greenpeace activists protest on September 27, 2013 in front of the Russian embassy in Paris, with signs calling for the release of activists from several countries arrested while protesting against the extraction of oil last week in the Arctic. Greenpeace on Friday vowed to appeal and not give in to intimidation after a Russian court ruled to detain all 30 crew members of a ship involved in a high seas protest against Arctic oil drilling. The Lenin district court in the northern city of Murmansk ruled yesterday that 22 crew members will remain in pre-trial detention for two months during the investigation into alleged piracy over the September 18 protest at a Gazprom oil rig. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS SAMSON (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FRANCE-RUSSIA-OIL-ENERGY-PROTEST-ENVIRONMENT-SCIENCE-MEDIA(22 of40)
Greenpeace activists protest on September 27, 2013 in front of the Russian embassy in Paris, with signs calling for the release of activists from several countries arrested while protesting against the extraction of oil last week in the Arctic. Greenpeace on Friday vowed to appeal and not give in to intimidation after a Russian court ruled to detain all 30 crew members of a ship involved in a high seas protest against Arctic oil drilling. The Lenin district court in the northern city of Murmansk ruled yesterday that 22 crew members will remain in pre-trial detention for two months during the investigation into alleged piracy over the September 18 protest at a Gazprom oil rig. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS SAMSON (Photo credit should read THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRAZIL-RUSSIA-GREENPEACE-DEMO(23 of40)
Greenpeace activists protest on September 27, 2013 in front of the Russian Embassy in Brasilia with banners calling for the release of 28 activists from several countries arrested and charged with piracy while protesting against the extraction of oil last week in the Arctic. AFP PHOTO / Evaristo Sa (Photo credit should read EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Dmitry Litvinov(24 of40)
Greenpeace activist Dmitry Litvinov, a US and Swiss citizen, sits in a cage in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed Greenpeace activist Dmitry Litvinov, who was part of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform last week. The Coast Guard disrupted an attempt by Greenpeace activists on Sept. 18 to scale the Russian Arctic platform. Russian authorities seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
Dmitry Litvinov(25 of40)
Greenpeace activist Dmitry Litvinov, a US and Swiss citizen, sits in a cage in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed Greenpeace activist Dmitry Litvinov, who was part of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform last week. The Coast Guard disrupted an attempt by Greenpeace activists on Sept. 18 to scale the Russian Arctic platform. Russian authorities seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
Peter Willcox(26 of40)
A police officer guards the US captain of the Greenpeace ship 'Arctic Sunrise', Peter Willcox in a cage in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed Peter Willcox who was captain of the of Greenpeace ship 'Arctic Sunrise' and member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform last week. Two members of the group were detained Sept. 18 in their attempt to scale the Russian Arctic platform. The Coast Guard seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard, to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
Pisanu Francesco Pierre(27 of40)
Greenpeace activist Pisanu Francesco Pierre of France sits in a cage in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed a photographer and two Greenpeace activists who were part of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform in the Arctic last week. The Coast Guard disrupted an attempt by Greenpeace activists on Sept. 18 to scale the Russian Arctic platform. Russian authorities seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
Peter Willcox(28 of40)
The US captain of the Greenpeace ship 'Arctic Sunrise', Peter Willcox is kept behind bars in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed Peter Willcox who was captain of the of Greenpeace ship 'Arctic Sunrise' and member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform last week. Two members of the group were detained Sept. 18 in their attempt to scale the Russian Arctic platform. The Coast Guard seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard, to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
Peter Willcox(29 of40)
A police officers guards the US captain of the Greenpeace ship 'Arctic Sunrise', Peter Willcox in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed Peter Willcox who was captain of the of Greenpeace ship 'Arctic Sunrise' and member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform last week. Two members of the group were detained Sept. 18 in their attempt to scale the Russian Arctic platform. The Coast Guard seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard, to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
Pisanu Francesco Pierre(30 of40)
A police officer guards a cage with Greenpeace activist Pisanu Francesco Pierre of France in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed a photographer and two Greenpeace activists who were part of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform in the Arctic last week. The Coast Guard disrupted an attempt by Greenpeace activists on Sept. 18 to scale the Russian Arctic platform. Russian authorities seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
Pisanu Francesco Pierre(31 of40)
Police officers guard a cage with Greenpeace activist Pisanu Francesco Pierre of France in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed a photographer and two Greenpeace activists who were part of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform in the Arctic last week. The Coast Guard disrupted an attempt by Greenpeace activists on Sept. 18 to scale the Russian Arctic platform. Russian authorities seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
Pisanu Francesco Pierre(32 of40)
Police officers guard a cage with Greenpeace activist Pisanu Francesco Pierre, center, of France in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed a photographer and two Greenpeace activists who were part of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform in the Arctic last week. The Coast Guard disrupted an attempt by Greenpeace activists on Sept. 18 to scale the Russian Arctic platform. Russian authorities seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
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In this photo dated Thursday Sept. 26, 2013 and released by environmental activist group Greenpeace, photographer Denis Sinyakov, center, sits in a cage in a court room in Murmansk, Russia. A Russian court on Thursday jailed two of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform last week. Two members of the group were detained Sept. 18 in their attempt to scale the Russian Arctic platform. The Coast Guard seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard, to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Greenpeace) (credit:AP)
Roman Dolgov(34 of40)
A police officer guards a cage with Greenpeace activist Roman Dolgov, left, in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed Greenpeace arctic project coordinator Roman Dolgov, who was part of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform last week. Two members of the group were detained Sept. 18 in their attempt to scale the Russian Arctic platform. The Coast Guard seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard, to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
Roman Dolgov(35 of40)
Greenpeace activist Roman Dolgov, left, sits in a cage during a hearing in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed Greenpeace arctic project coordinator Roman Dolgov, who was part of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform last week. Two members of the group were detained Sept. 18 in their attempt to scale the Russian Arctic platform. The Coast Guard seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard, to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
Greenpeace Activists Held In Murmansk(36 of40)
In this photo dated Thursday Sept. 26, 2013 by environmental activist group Greenpeace, Russian police officers escort a Greenpeace activist, no name available, to a court room in Murmansk, Russia. A Russian court on Thursday jailed two of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform last week. Two members of the group were detained Sept. 18 in their attempt to scale the Russian Arctic platform. The Coast Guard seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard, to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Greenpeace) (credit:AP)
Roman Dolgov(37 of40)
A police officer removes the handcuffs from Greenpeace activist Roman Dolgov, right, in a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed Greenpeace arctic project coordinator Roman Dolgov, who was part of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform last week. Two members of the group were detained Sept. 18 in their attempt to scale the Russian Arctic platform. The Coast Guard seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard, to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
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Photographer Denis Sinyakov, top, smiles as he is escorted into a court room in Murmansk, Russia, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. A Russian court on Thursday jailed a photographer Denis Sinyakov, who was part of the 30-member Greenpeace team protesting near an oil platform last week. Two members of the group were detained Sept. 18 in their attempt to scale the Russian Arctic platform. The Coast Guard seized Greenpeace's ship the next day and towed it with the 30 activists aboard, to Murmansk. The activists are being investigated for piracy. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (credit:AP)
BULGARIA-RUSSIA-OIL-ENERGY-PROTEST-ENVIRONMENT-SCIENCE(39 of40)
Greenpeace activists stand chained to petrol pumps during a protest against oil exploration in the arctic at a Gazprom petrol station in the city of Sofia on September 26, 2013. Activists of Greenpeace blocked the gas station to protest against the plans of Gazprom company for oil drilling in the Arctic and demanded the release of the 30 detained activists whod been involved in a protest at the companys Prirazlomnaya platform last week. AFP PHOTO / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV (Photo credit should read NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BULGARIA-RUSSIA-OIL-ENERGY-PROTEST-ENVIRONMENT-SCIENCE(40 of40)
Greenpeace activists stand chained to petrol pumps during a protest against oil exploration in the arctic at a Gazprom petrol station in the city of Sofia on September 26, 2013. Activists of Greenpeace blocked the gas station to protest against the plans of Gazprom company for oil drilling in the Arctic and demanded the release of the 30 detained activists whod been involved in a protest at the companys Prirazlomnaya platform last week. AFP PHOTO / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV (Photo credit should read NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)