In his letter Sir Paul makes a lyrical appeal
for the release of the 28 Greenpeace International campaigners and two
freelance journalists who remain in detention in St Petersburg, facing charges
of piracy and hooliganism. They were arrested eight weeks ago following a
peaceful protest against Arctic oil drilling. Sir Paul, who has previously
taken tea with Putin in the Kremlin [1], writes:
“Forty-five
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?”
This morning, after releasing the letter on
his website [2] he tweeted: “...The Russian Ambassador kindly
responded saying that their situation ‘is not properly represented in the world
media’...”. Sir Paul then tweeted: “...It would be great if this
misunderstanding could be resolved and the protesters can be home with their
families in time for Christmas…” and finished by tweeting: “We live in hope.
Paul McCartney”
The ex-Beatle is hugely popular in Russia -
and with Vladimir Putin himself. In 2003 he performed to over 100,000 people
including the President in Moscow’s Red Square [3]. Before that concert, Sir
Paul was given a personal guided tour of the Kremlin by Putin, who was reported
as telling him, "You are loved here [in Russia].” [4] The pair are on
first name terms, as Sir Paul’s letter reveals:
“Vladimir, millions of people in
dozens of countries would be hugely grateful if you were to intervene to bring
about an end to this affair.I
understand of course that the Russian courts and the Russian Presidency are
separate. Nevertheless I wonder if you may be able to use whatever influence
you have to reunite the detainees with their families?”
The strictly private letter was written on
October 14th, and Sir Paul is releasing it exactly one month later. McCartney
alludes to the preposterous nature of the charges facing the Arctic 30 in light
of Greenpeace’s dedication to non-violent protest. He writes:
“I am writing to assure you that the
Greenpeace I know is most certainly not an anti-Russian organisation…And above
all else they are peaceful. In my experience, non-violence is an essential part
of who they are.”
Kumi Naidoo, executive director of Greenpeace
International said today:
“Sir Paul’s letter is an extraordinary
and beautiful plea for justice from one of the twentieth century’s most famous
icons, and it went straight into the inbox of President Putin himself. We know
some of the Arctic 30 are able to listen to the radio in their cells, and some
of them are no doubt Beatles fans, so this news would be music to their ears.
Sir Paul is hugely respected in Russia, and so we hope his letter brings the
day closer when those thirty brave men and women are back with their families.”
The Arctic 30 were this week moved to St
Petersburg, and the charge of piracy has not yet been officially removed,
despite a promise by the authorities. Sir Paul was awarded a diploma of
honorary professor at St Petersburg's Conservatoir on a visit to Russia in
2003.
Since the Arctic Sunrise was seized eight
weeks ago, there has been an outpouring of support from across the world for
the Arctic 30. World leaders including Brazilian President Dilma Roussef,
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron have expressed their concern for the
fate of the prisoners. Thirteen Nobel Peace Prize winners including
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Aung San Suu Kyi and Lech Walesa have also spoken out.
To date,
more than 2 million people have sent letters and emails calling for the release
of the Arctic 30, and banners have been hung from Mount Everest to the Eiffel
Tower.
ENDS
Notes:
[1]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2935244.stm
[2]
http://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/27699-a-letter-to-vladimir-putin-in-support-of-greenpeace
[3]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2935244.stm
[4]
http://english.pravda.ru/news/russia/24-05-2003/49998-0/
The ex-Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, is
currently in Japan for two weeks on his “Out There” tour, performing to fans in
Osaka, Fukuoka and Tokyo.
Contacts:
Greenpeace UK Press Office: +44 (0)207 865
8255
Greenpeace International press desk: +31 20 718 24
70 or pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace
International picture desk: +31 20 718 24 71
Greenpeace
International video desk: +31 20 718 24 72