Two New Zealand Greenpeace activists have been charged with piracy in Russia's northern city of Murmansk.
David Haussmann and Jonathan Beauchamp are among a group of 30 who were aboard the protest vessel Arctic Sunrise when it was seized at gunpoint by Russian forces two weeks ago after an oil protest.
The entire crew has now been charged.
The activists were arrested after a Greenpeace ship approached a drilling platform and two activists tried to scale the rig, operated by Russian state-owned company Gazprom.
The offence of piracy by an organised group is punishable in Russia by up to 15 years in prison.
Greenpeace says it is cautiously optimistic that the piracy charges will be dropped.
Greenpeace executive director Bunny McDiarmid says as piracy involves doing something for private commercial gain, the group is hopeful that particular charge will not stand.
She says it also has to be a violent act and it must be against the ship, but this was a peaceful protest on an oil platform.
Ms McDiarmid says the definition of piracy under Russian law would make it being used in this instance something of a long-shot.
She says the reaction of the Russian authorities has been disproportionate, and the New Zealand Government should at least express concern.
Ms McDiarmid says appeals against the charges have been lodged, but they probably won't be heard for another week.
Green Party MP Gareth Hughes says the charges are extreme and disproportionate and wants the Government to call on Russia to release the men.
He says the charges are an intimidation tactic and wonders whether they would hold up in court."I think many reasonable people wouldn't consider putting a banner on an oil rig piracy."
