Aussie activist complains of detention conditions

A Tasmanian Greenpeace activist says he's being held in freezing, inhumane conditions in the Russian city of Murmansk.

A Tasmanian Greenpeace activist has described the conditions of his detention in the Russian city of Murmansk as unacceptable.

59 year old Colin Russell is one of 28 Greenpeace activists and two journalists being detained on piracy and hooliganism charges since September.

The group were detained after several Greenpeace activists tried to scale Russia's Gazprom oil platform in protest over oil exploration in the Arctic Ocean.

In private letters released by the family and Greenpeace, Mr Russell describes freezing, inhumane conditions.

But Greenpeace spokesman Ben Pearson told Ildi Amon the group is trying to remain in good spirits.

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