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Detained Greenpeace activists transferred by prison train to St. Petersburg

Associated Press
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A Russian police officer guards police vans believed to be transporting Greenpeace activists to a prison in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. Jailed Greenpeace activists have been transferred from Russia’s far north to the city of St. Petersburg, officials confirmed. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (The Associated Press)

A Russian policeman stands as authorities prepare to transfer detained Greenpeace International activists to a prison in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. Greenpeace ship, Arctic Sunrise, was seized by Russian security forces after some activists tried to scale an offshore oil platform. The 30 activists have been charged with hooliganism by the Russian authorities. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) (The Associated Press)

Russian officials say 30 people arrested following a Greenpeace protest at an Arctic oil rig have been transferred to St. Petersburg.

Spokeswoman Svetlana Peskovskaya from the Ministry of Interior's Transport Administration confirmed Tuesday that the 28 activists, a Russian photographer and a British videographer arrived from the northern Russian city of Murmansk in a sealed train wagon

The Greenpeace ship "Arctic Sunrise" was seized by the Russian coast guard after activists staged a protest outside the oil rig belonging to Russia's Gazprom state energy giant on Sept. 18. In the midst of international pressure, Russia dropped piracy charges and the 30 are now charged with hooliganism.