An Australian environmental activist could face up to 15 years in jail after being charged with piracy in Russia.
Tasmanian man Colin Russell was among a further 15 Greenpeace activists and a freelance photojournalist charged with the offence overnight.
They, along with 15 others, face a maximum jail sentence of 15 years if found guilty for their roles in a protest against oil drilling in the Arctic Circle last month.
Worldwide protests organised by Greenpeace will be held on Saturday for the "Arctic 30", who were detained in the port city of Murmansk after their ship the Arctic Sunrise was boarded at gunpoint by Russian authorities.
Mr Russell's wife said she and her daughter just want him to come home.
"Madeliene and I are extremely concerned about the charges handed down today," Ms Russell said in a statement to Greenpeace.
"We're really missing Colin and we just need him home."
Lawyers acting on behalf of Greenpeace International have now lodged formal appeals in the Murmansk Lenin district court against the continued detention of the protesters.
Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo said their activists had been charged with an "imaginary offence" over their protest against the Gazprom Arctic drilling platform.
"An effort is underway to intimidate us, but our peaceful passionate campaign against Gazprom and all other Arctic drillers will not be silenced," he said in a statement.
Peaceful events are planned in more than 80 cities in 45 countries on Saturday, including Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Greens leader Christine Milne has urged the federal government to stop "looking the other way" and stand up not only for Australian citizens but for anybody using their right to non-violent protest.
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