Stars join fight to free Kiwi activists

Damon Albarn, left, Jude Law and Paul Simonon take part in a protest against the detention of Greenpeace activists in Russia. Photo / AP

Actor Jude Law and musician Damon Albarn have added their voices to mounting calls for the release of 30 Greenpeace activists, including two New Zealanders, being detained in Russia.

All crew members of the Arctic Sunrise ship, which was seized in international waters last month during a protest over drilling for oil in the Arctic, now face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Law, Albarn, the Clash bass player Paul Simonon and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood joined about 800 people outside the Russian Embassy in London yesterday to put pressure on Russia to release the group.

It was part of a global day of protest which also saw about 200 people rally outside the Russian Embassy in Wellington.

Law told the Guardian that he was "just adding my face and body to the mass of support".

"The fact that there is a threat of conviction did not put them off. What is ludicrous is that they have been charged with piracy, which has a threat of 15 years in prison."

Law and Albarn, who are friends with one of the detainees Frank Hewetson, reportedly said the arrests were an international disgrace.

"Of course I am worried about Frank because I care about his family and I care about him but I know that he is incredibly durable," Law said.

Among the crew arrested were New Zealanders Jonathan Beauchamp and David Haussmann.

Mr Haussmann's partner, Sarah Watson, broke down as she gave an emotional speech at yesterday's rally in Wellington.

"These are not crazy nut-bars, they're normal peaceful people...and they believe in the right to peaceful protest and the right of free speech and I believe they deserve some support from everybody and that includes the New Zealand Government."

Beauchamp's niece Zara Mansoor also spoke to the crowd and read a letter written by her grandmother, Mary Beauchamp, about her son.

The letter said: "Our John is a caring, practical, commonsense sort of man and very brave too."

Meanwhile, Russia has reportedly shrugged off Dutch legal action over the activists' detention.

The Netherlands launched legal proceedings against Russia on Friday, with the country's Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans saying he felt responsible because the vessel sailed under a Dutch flag.

In response, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov told state-run news agency RIA Novosti that Russia had repeatedly asked the Netherlands to halt what Russia said was "illegal activity" by the ship.

"Unfortunately, this was not done. Therefore, we have far more questions for the Dutch side than they can have for us," Reuters reported.

"Everything that happened with the Arctic Sunrise was pure provocation."