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Faiza: "The uncertainty is driving me crazy" (A letter by a Greenpeace activist arrested in Russia)
Greenpeace UK ^ | 2 October 2013 at 9:50am | Faiza Oulahsen

Posted on 10/02/2013 8:53:29 AM PDT by Freelance Warrior

I was locked up on the ship from Thursday 19 September 18:30 until Tuesday evening.

I was one of the first ones to be taken in to what I thought would be an interrogation. There I sat, on a chair inside a cold room. Next to me was a translator, a young lady, who apparently had studied English. She told me that a written report had to be compiled on the incident. I requested a Dutch translator and was told, "That's not possible."

I willingly stated that I would confirm my personal details, but that I would not say anything further until such time as a lawyer was present. "It's just a report" they said. I laughed and said, "I need my lawyer." After a while Vladizlav, my lawyer, came in.

Around midnight I was taken to the rest of the group. At that moment, a number [of people] were handcuffed and taken away. After that we were supposed to be incarcerated for 48 hours. Handcuffed we were taken away in groups to three different buildings. Upon arrival we were put together with six women from our group in a cell. It took quite a while before we were called one by one for intake; therefore we just laid on the floor and wooden tables, because we were dead tired.

Around 5 o'clock I was taken to my cell. It was ice cold and the lights were on constantly.

The following day we went again to the office. The previous night I was informed that I was going to be charged with piracy and other made-up stories. Today I get to hear who the leaders of the investigation team are — of course drafted in a Russian document. I requested a translation on paper and a copy of the original document. I was told that I had to get my lawyer to request it from the "General in Moscow."

The next day, Thursday 26/9 was a very heavy day. We were again transported in busses, but this time in a dark, locked up metal cage, where just one person could fit, like animals get transported, to the FSB office.

There we were placed and locked up in windowed cages and we waited for the hearing. Very inhumane.

After a few of us had had the hearing, we were informed that we were under arrest and would be put away for two months until the trial. Alex burst out in tears. I started to lose the calmness and self-control I had been using the past couple of days, slowly but surely. Two months in a cell is one thing but after that? A sentence of a few months or a few years in a case based on lies?

Martin, the consul, said that I should stay calm because the Dutch have a good communication with the Russians. Good communication?? For what, I ask myself? Over the fact that the Russians illegally entered Dutch territory and pushed us into International waters so that they can violently arrest us? Is the Dutch Government demanding our release? Immediately? The Russians are not even allowed to arrest us and they still do it. They do exactly whatever they feel like.

They still have to get me and the 7 others a translator for the hearing, and I hope they don’t find one until Sunday because then I still stand a chance to be deported.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Russia
KEYWORDS: arcticsunrise; faiza; greenpeace; russia
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Excepted but not marked as such: too long.
1 posted on 10/02/2013 8:53:29 AM PDT by Freelance Warrior
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To: Freelance Warrior

He was already crazy. I’m certain...............


2 posted on 10/02/2013 8:54:32 AM PDT by Red Badger (It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong. .....Voltaire)
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To: Freelance Warrior

This is what happens when children poke men in the eye.


3 posted on 10/02/2013 9:02:12 AM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: Freelance Warrior

His ship was Dutch Territory?

That’s... original..


4 posted on 10/02/2013 9:02:13 AM PDT by Hardraade (http://junipersec.wordpress.com (Obama: the bearded lady of the Muslim Brotherhood))
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To: Freelance Warrior

5 posted on 10/02/2013 9:04:15 AM PDT by nascarnation (Democrats control the Presidency, Senate, and Media. It's an uphill climb....)
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To: Freelance Warrior

No Dutch translators? Ha, ha, ha. This is GREAT! I’m loving every moment of this. And the rooms are cold...poor baby. I don’t think they heat the prisons very well in Russia!


6 posted on 10/02/2013 9:05:14 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob (They are called "Liberals" because the word "parasite" was already taken.)
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To: Freelance Warrior

Next time keep off of other people’s oil rigs.


7 posted on 10/02/2013 9:07:15 AM PDT by Brooklyn Attitude (Things are only going to get worse.)
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To: Freelance Warrior

Not Guilty

8 posted on 10/02/2013 9:07:34 AM PDT by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied)
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To: Freelance Warrior

My only regret is that a certain senior official was not on the oil-rig infiltration team.


9 posted on 10/02/2013 9:09:27 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Early 2009 to 7/21/2013 - RIP my little girl Cathy. You were the best cat ever. You will be missed.)
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To: Freelance Warrior; All

What a stupid person you poke the bear in the eye & are surprised that the bear doesn’t play nice. As for being transported in a Russian paddy wagon what did the dumbass expect a limo?


10 posted on 10/02/2013 9:09:37 AM PDT by Nebr FAL owner
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To: jpsb

Guilty inside.


11 posted on 10/02/2013 9:09:53 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Early 2009 to 7/21/2013 - RIP my little girl Cathy. You were the best cat ever. You will be missed.)
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To: jpsb

Let’s see how she looks after a few months in a Russian prison.


12 posted on 10/02/2013 9:11:09 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (I'm a Christian, pro-life, pro-gun, Reaganite. The GOP hates me. Why should I vote for them?)
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To: nascarnation

He aims with his left eye? He doesn’t know guns either?


13 posted on 10/02/2013 9:13:50 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: Lazamataz

She just needs a good strong man to straighten her out. Hope she does not spent many years in a Russian Prison. That would be a real waste of a nice child bearing age female. And yes, Laz I know you’d “hit it”.


14 posted on 10/02/2013 9:14:32 AM PDT by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied)
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To: onedoug

LOL I’ll let you inform him....


15 posted on 10/02/2013 9:16:42 AM PDT by nascarnation (Democrats control the Presidency, Senate, and Media. It's an uphill climb....)
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To: jpsb

LOL! Way to go dumbass. Too bad the frenchies didn’t get to your boat first. You think the Russians give to craps about you and your BS career of acting like gnats? Hello Siberia. Gulag 13 calling.


16 posted on 10/02/2013 9:18:27 AM PDT by rktman (Inergalactic background checks? King hussein you're first up.)
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To: onedoug

Maybe Putin has an opposite-dominant eye.

Anyway, boo-hoo-hoo to this sea hippie & I hope she likes cold kasha with her black bread.


17 posted on 10/02/2013 9:18:45 AM PDT by elcid1970 ("In the modern world, Muslims are living fossils.")
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To: Freelance Warrior

18 posted on 10/02/2013 9:25:58 AM PDT by Donald Rumsfeld Fan (The)
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To: Donald Rumsfeld Fan

Nice makeup for a jail cell.
Is she getting conjugal visits with Putin?


19 posted on 10/02/2013 9:28:45 AM PDT by nascarnation (Democrats control the Presidency, Senate, and Media. It's an uphill climb....)
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To: onedoug

“He aims with his left eye? He doesn’t know guns either?”

Lots of right handed people have left eye dominance. They shoot just fine.


20 posted on 10/02/2013 9:36:00 AM PDT by Brooklyn Attitude (Things are only going to get worse.)
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