All six Britons arrested by Russian authorities during a Greenpeace protest in the Arctic have been granted bail and five have been released.
Meanwhile a UN- mandated tribunal has ordered the immediate release of the environmental group’s vessel.
The Arctic Sunrise was seized by Russian authorities, and 28 activists and two freelance journalists on board were arrested two months ago.
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, sitting in Hamburg, said the ship and those arrested should be released in return for a 3.6million euro (£3million) bond.
Greenpeace said it was a “historic” day, when the rights of the so-called Arctic 30 had been upheld by an international court.
The five Britons released in St Petersburg yesterday were Anthony Perrett, from Newport in south Wales, freelance journalist Kieron Bryan, Alexandra Harris from Exeter, Iain Rogers from Devon, and Frank Hewetson from London.
Philip Ball from Oxford has been granted bail but remains in detention.
Australian Colin Russell, a radio engineer, is the only one of the 30 to have been refused bail.
Mr Bryan and Ms Harris told how tough it had been when they were locked up after the Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise was boarded by Russian security forces during a protest against oil drilling.
Ms Harris revealed she was kept in a cell on her own after being taken to a prison in Murmansk.
“For the first week it was really harsh. It was nerve-wracking,” she told BBC News immediately after being released.
Mr Bryan said: “More than anything, it’s the isolation and not being able to speak to anyone, not being able to speak a common language. Being trapped in a cell for 24 hours a day is something I don’t ever want to experience again.
“My plan now is to go to a hotel and have a long shower, leave my room whenever I want, never do another sudoku puzzle again, and speak to my family. That’s the main plan.
“No idea about what happens next. I’m just focusing on getting through today, speaking to my family, and I’ll deal with everything from then.” Mr Bryan’s father Andy said: “We’re absolutely thrilled Kieron is out.
“He looks tremendously relieved, in good shape, and doesn’t seem to have lost his sense of humour either.