Russian Court Grants Bail to Seven Greenpeace Activists

Were detained after protest at Arctic oil rig

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — A Russian court on Tuesday granted bail to Greenpeace protesters from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Italy, New Zealand and Poland, the first group of foreign activists eligible for release from jail while awaiting trial for participating in a demonstration near a Russian oil rig.

The Primorsky court in St. Petersburg set bail at 2 million rubles ($61,500) each for the seven Greenpeace activists. The court said they will be released, if the bail is paid within the next four days.

One of the activists, Miguel Orsi of Argentina, clutched a photograph of his baby daughter and cried upon hearing the judge's decision.

Greenpeace said it would make money available as soon as possible.