Arctic Sunrise seizure at the Prirazlomnaya platform: ITLOS bond, PCA arbitration, 2019 settlement and ECtHR judgment
- Company or project Gazprom (2013, via Radio Svoboda): The platform's design features completely exclude an oil spill during extraction and storage (translated). Radio Svoboda
- Company or project Gazprom (project page): Wellheads are inside the platform, the foundation acts as a buffer zone between the well and the open sea, and the offloading line has emergency shutdown. Gazprom
- Communities and civil society Greenpeace (2012): Platform equipment was rated for 500 tonnes of spilled oil with the rest of the response kit more than 1,000 km away; shoreline equipment was '15 shovels, 15 buckets'; independent modelling by Valentin Zhuravel found a 140,000 sq km risk zone, with a spill reaching nearby reserves in about 20 hours. Greenpeace Aotearoa
- Communities and civil society WWF Russia (Alexey Knizhnikov, December 2013): The company had not proven it had technology to clean up emergency spills; no plan for ice conditions had been presented to the public (translated). Radio Svoboda
Russian authorities boarded the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise and detained 30 people after a protest at Gazprom's Prirazlomnaya oil platform in the Pechora Sea in September 2013. An ITLOS order, an arbitral tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, a 2019 Netherlands–Russia settlement and a 2023 European Court of Human Rights judgment followed.
As recorded by the European Court of Human Rights (27 June 2023); EUR 605,000 of it went to the 30 applicants, EUR 20,167 each. Press reports of the settlement give '2.7 million euros' and, in one outlet citing AFP, '$2.7 million'.
Status As of 27 September 2023: the ECtHR judgment of 27 June 2023 is final; the terms of the 2019 settlement remain confidential.
- Greenpeace International — Received EUR 2,700,159.16 from the Netherlands under the 2019 settlement, according to the ECtHR European Court of Human Rights
- The 30 applicants — EUR 605,000 in equal shares of EUR 20,167 each, transferred by Greenpeace International European Court of Human Rights
- Gazprom — Production at Prirazlomnaya started in December 2013; ARCO crude entered the market in April 2014 Gazprom
- Russian Federation — Ordered by the PCA tribunal in 2017 to pay the Netherlands five EUR amounts with interest; found in breach of UNCLOS; ECtHR found violations of Articles 5 § 1 and 10 Permanent Court of Arbitration
- Kingdom of the Netherlands — Posted a EUR 3.6 million bond in 2013 and, under the settlement, transferred EUR 2,700,159.16 to Greenpeace International International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
- The Arctic 30 — Detained from September 2013 and charged with piracy and then hooliganism; released on bail in November 2013; ECtHR found their arrest and detention arbitrary European Court of Human Rights
- The Arctic Sunrise — Damage assessed by the PCA tribunal at EUR 1,695,126.18 Permanent Court of Arbitration
- Pechora Sea and nearby nature reserves — Greenpeace cited the risk of an oil spill in an area containing three nature reserves protected by Russian law, and modelling it cited put a spill risk zone at 140,000 sq km Greenpeace Aotearoa
What happened
Gazprom's Prirazlomnaya platform stands on the Prirazlomnoye field on the Pechora Sea shelf, 60 kilometres off the shore at a water depth of 19 to 20 metres according to Gazprom; production started in December 2013. Greenpeace's 'Save the Arctic' campaign, which since 2010 sought a ban on offshore oil drilling and industrial fishing in Arctic waters, held a first protest on the platform on 24–28 August 2012. Greenpeace Russia said the Emergencies Ministry's 2007 approval of the platform's spill-response plan expired in July 2012.
On 18 September 2013 five inflatables from the Arctic Sunrise approached the platform and two activists began to scale it to unfurl a banner; water cannon was fired from the platform and the Coast Guard vessel Ladoga took the climbers. On 19 September armed FSB agents boarded the Arctic Sunrise from a helicopter and the vessel was towed to Murmansk. Thirty people were on board, 28 Greenpeace activists and two freelance journalists of 19 nationalities (the 'Arctic 30').
The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case for piracy on 24 September 2013 and charged the 30 on 2–3 October. On 21 October the head of the investigation wrote that the platform 'was not a vessel but a port facility', and on 23 October the charges were amended to hooliganism. The detainees were released on bail between 20 and 29 November, the State Duma adopted an amnesty on 18 December and the prosecutions were discontinued on 24–25 December 2013. No one was convicted.
The Netherlands began arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on 4 October 2013. On 22 November 2013 the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ordered the release of the vessel and detainees upon a bond of EUR 3.6 million, which the Netherlands posted on 2 December; Russia did not appear. The arbitral tribunal issued awards on jurisdiction (26 November 2014), the merits (14 August 2015, unanimous, finding breaches of the Convention) and compensation (10 July 2017), ordering Russia to pay the Netherlands five amounts with interest (listed in the Award on Compensation entry). Russia said it did not take part in the proceedings.
On 17 May 2019 the Netherlands and Russia announced a 'full and final settlement' whose details are confidential. According to the European Court of Human Rights, the Netherlands transferred EUR 2,700,159.16 to Greenpeace International, which transferred EUR 605,000 to the 30 applicants in equal shares. On 27 June 2023 the Court found violations of Article 5 § 1 and Article 10 and made no monetary award because the applicants had already received compensation; the judgment became final on 27 September 2023.
- 2012First Greenpeace protest at the platform (24–28 Aug); spill-response plan approval reported to expire in July
- 2012Greenpeace action against Arctic oil reported (27 Aug)
- 2013Protest (18 Sep); FSB boarding (19 Sep); piracy case (24 Sep); Netherlands starts arbitration (4 Oct); ITLOS order (22 Nov); bond posted (2 Dec); amnesty (18 Dec); prosecutions discontinued (24–25 Dec)
- 2014Russia's Note Verbale refusing to take part (27 Feb); arrest of the ship lifted (6 Jun); ship leaves Murmansk (1 Aug); Award on Jurisdiction (26 Nov)
- 2015Award on the Merits (14 Aug; press release 24 Aug)
- 2017Award on Compensation (10 Jul)
- 2019Netherlands–Russia joint statement and settlement (17 May)
- 2023ECtHR judgment in Bryan and Others v. Russia (27 Jun; final 27 Sep)
What was said
“The Russian Federation did not take part in these proceedings”
“contains obvious inaccuracies”
“does not take into account that Greenpeace activists' actions created a direct threat to the platform's safety”
“protest at sea is an internationally lawful use of the sea related to the freedom of navigation”
“Both countries acknowledge the right to protest at sea.”
“In my view the charge is absolutely absurd”
“This rusty oil platform is an Arctic disaster waiting to happen.”
“Arctic drilling is not safe and oil spills are inevitable”
“Justice has been done, now we can finally close this chapter.”
“After the Arctic 30 have received the compensation they are due, all the remaining money will go right back into campaigning against an oil industry”
“completely exclude an oil spill”
“meets the most stringent safety requirements and can withstand the highest ice loads.”
“The company has not proven it has technology to clean up emergency spills and readiness to start work”
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Did not take part; the tribunal has no jurisdiction (translated).
InterfaxOrdered release of the vessel and detainees upon a EUR 3.6 million bond, by 19 votes to 2.
International Tribunal for the Law of the SeaRussia's declaration does not exclude the dispute.
Permanent Court of ArbitrationCharged the 30 with piracy 'under the disguise of environmental defence activities'.
European Court of Human RightsThe platform 'was not a vessel but a port facility', precluding piracy; charges were amended to hooliganism on 23 October.
European Court of Human RightsThe platform was registered on 26 September 2012 as a marine ice-resistant stationary platform.
European Court of Human RightsThe protest was 'aggressive and provocative'; the activists' actions created a direct threat to the platform's safety (translated).
RAPSIProtest at sea is an internationally lawful use of the sea related to the freedom of navigation; Russia had not established a three-nautical-mile safety zone around the platform.
Permanent Court of ArbitrationThe charge was absurd; Greenpeace is a fundamentally non-violent organisation (translated).
RAPSIBoth countries acknowledge the right to protest at sea.
DutchNews.nlThe platform's design features completely exclude an oil spill during extraction and storage (translated).
Radio SvobodaWellheads are inside the platform, the foundation acts as a buffer zone between the well and the open sea, and the offloading line has emergency shutdown.
GazpromPlatform equipment was rated for 500 tonnes of spilled oil with the rest of the response kit more than 1,000 km away; shoreline equipment was '15 shovels, 15 buckets'; independent modelling by Valentin Zhuravel found a 140,000 sq km risk zone, with a spill reaching nearby reserves in about 20 hours.
Greenpeace AotearoaThe company had not proven it had technology to clean up emergency spills; no plan for ice conditions had been presented to the public (translated).
Radio SvobodaThe Emergencies Ministry approved the plan in 2007 for five years; the approval expired in July 2012 and the Ministry asked Gazprom Neft Shelf in March 2012 to correct and resubmit it; in its view drilling without it was not permitted.
Greenpeace AotearoaGreenpeace rejected an offer to come aboard for constructive dialogue (translated).
Business FMThe Netherlands transferred EUR 2,700,159.16 to Greenpeace International.
European Court of Human RightsGreenpeace to receive 2.7 million euros.
Reuters (via Yahoo News)EUR 2.7 million to Greenpeace to pay for damage to the ship, additional costs and compensation for the 30-strong crew.
DutchNews.nlHow it looked
Shown
- The piracy charge: the 30 were charged 'under the disguise of environmental defence activities'.Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (October 2013) · European Court of Human Rights
- The protest was 'aggressive and provocative'.Russia's Note Verbale to the Netherlands (18 September 2013), as recorded by the PCA · Permanent Court of Arbitration
- The platform's design features completely exclude an oil spill during extraction and storage.Gazprom (December 2013) · Radio Svoboda
- The remaining settlement money would go back into campaigning against the oil industry.Greenpeace International (2019) · Greenpeace International
Recorded
- The tribunal found Russia in breach of UNCLOS Articles 56(2), 58(1), 58(2), 87(1)(a) and 92(1); in breach of Articles 290(6) and 296(1) by not complying with the ITLOS order; and in breach of Part XV and Article 300 by not paying deposits. Russia had 'not at any time established a safety zone of three nautical miles around the platform'. No apology or non-repetition was ordered; restitution of seized property was ordered.
- Award on Compensation (10 July 2017): EUR 1,695,126.18 for damage to the Arctic Sunrise; EUR 600,000 non-material damage to the Arctic 30; EUR 2,461,935.43 material damage from measures against the Arctic 30; EUR 13,500 for the bank guarantee; EUR 625,000 reimbursement of Russia's share of arbitration deposits paid by the Netherlands; plus interest at Euro LIBOR + 6% (material damage), + 3% (non-material damage) and Euro LIBOR flat (guarantee and deposits) from the date of the Award on the Merits.
- The ECtHR awarded no non-pecuniary damages 'since the applicants have already obtained financial compensation in connection with the events' and no costs; it held the finding of a violation sufficient just satisfaction (5 votes to 2). The applicants 'did not submit a claim for pecuniary damage'.
- Neither the applicants nor Greenpeace International were parties to the settlement; the ECtHR records the Dutch transfer 'in accordance with the terms of a confidential settlement agreement'.
- Russia did not appear before ITLOS or the arbitral tribunal and did not pay its share of the deposits; at the tribunal's first procedural meeting 'there were no representatives from the Russian Federation'.
- ITLOS Order of 22 November 2013 (Case No. 22): release of the vessel and detained persons upon a bond of EUR 3.6 million; Russia did not appear, citing its Article 298 declaration in a Note Verbale of 22 October 2013.
- Mediazona reported that the Russian and Dutch foreign ministries called the 2019 settlement full and final and did not name the amount, and cited the hooliganism charge under Article 213 Part 2.
- Commentary at the University of Tromsø says the settlement also covers scientific cooperation in the Russian Arctic and understandings on protest at sea.
- The case was formally closed on 24 September 2014, according to Greenpeace's press secretary; the Investigative Committee for the North-Western Federal District declined to confirm this officially.
- The ECtHR found the arrest and detention of the applicants arbitrary under Article 5 § 1 and found a violation of Article 10 (freedom of expression).
- Gazprom reports reserves of over 70 million tons of oil at the Prirazlomnoye field; Radio Svoboda reported about 72 million tonnes recoverable and design output of about 6 million tonnes a year, citing Gazprom's press service.
- In 2012 a Russian activist was fined RUB 11,500 and a Polish activist RUB 10,000 by the Cheryomushki magistrate's court in Moscow for a protest at Gazprom's headquarters against Prirazlomnaya drilling.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- russia-gov (2015-08-25): Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia did not take part in the arbitration, that the tribunal had no jurisdiction and that the award 'contains obvious inaccuracies'; deputy spokesman Artem Kozhin said the award did not take into account a direct threat to the platform's safety and that the activists' actions were provocative (translated). · Interfax
- dutch-government (2019-05-17): Foreign Minister Stef Blok said both countries acknowledge the right to protest at sea; in a letter to parliament he said the Netherlands had successfully defended the importance of peaceful protest at sea, including in the Arctic. · DutchNews.nl
- greenpeace-international (2019): Said it was not a party to the settlement and welcomed the Russian government's agreement with a declaration confirming the substance of the tribunal's ruling; said remaining money would go back into campaigning. · Greenpeace International
- gazprom (2012-08-27): Said in 2012 that Greenpeace rejected an offer to come aboard for constructive dialogue (Greenpeace Russia said it received no such offer); said in 2013 that the platform's design completely excludes an oil spill. · Business FM
- wwf-russia (2013-12): In December 2013 its Alexey Knizhnikov said the company had not proven it had technology to clean up emergency spills and that no plan for ice conditions had been presented to the public (translated). · Radio Svoboda
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2013–2013DismissedRussian criminal proceedings against the Arctic 30Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation; Leninskiy District Court of Murmansk; Murmansk Regional Court · Criminal · Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation → The 30 people on board (28 Greenpeace activists and two freelance journalists)
A case for piracy (Criminal Code Article 227) was opened on 24 September 2013 and the 30 were charged on 2–3 October; the Leninskiy District Court authorised detention until 24 November 2013 and the Murmansk Regional Court upheld it. On 23 October the charges were amended to hooliganism (Article 213 Part 2, per Mediazona). The ship's master was also charged with an administrative offence (Article 19.4 § 2). Following the amnesty of 18 December 2013 the prosecutions were discontinued on 24–25 December 2013. No one was convicted. European Court of Human Rights
- 2013–2013Claimant won€3.6m bond for releaseCase No. 22, The 'Arctic Sunrise' (Netherlands v. Russian Federation), provisional measuresInternational Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Hamburg) · International court · Kingdom of the Netherlands → Russian Federation
On 22 November 2013 ITLOS ordered release of the vessel and all detained persons upon the posting of a bond of EUR 3.6 million, as a bank guarantee to the Russian Federation, by 19 votes to 2. Russia did not appear, citing its Article 298 declaration in a Note Verbale of 22 October 2013. The Netherlands posted the bond on 2 December 2013. International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
- 2013–2015Claimant wonArctic Sunrise Arbitration (Netherlands v. Russian Federation): Awards on Jurisdiction and the MeritsAnnex VII arbitral tribunal administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (seat Vienna) · Arbitration · Kingdom of the Netherlands → Russian Federation
The tribunal (Judge Thomas Mensah, President; Henry Burmester, Alfred Soons, Janusz Symonides, Alberto Székely) held on 26 November 2014 that Russia's declaration did not exclude the dispute. On 14 August 2015 it unanimously found that Russia had breached UNCLOS Articles 56(2), 58(1), 58(2), 87(1)(a) and 92(1), Articles 290(6) and 296(1) by not complying with the ITLOS order, and Part XV and Article 300 by not paying deposits. No apology or non-repetition was ordered; restitution of seized property was ordered. Russia did not take part. Permanent Court of Arbitration
- 2013–2017Claimant wonArctic Sunrise Arbitration: Award on CompensationAnnex VII arbitral tribunal administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration · Arbitration · Kingdom of the Netherlands → Russian Federation
On 10 July 2017 the tribunal unanimously ordered Russia to pay the Netherlands, with interest: EUR 1,695,126.18 for damage to the Arctic Sunrise (EUR 1,799,546 claimed); EUR 600,000 for non-material damage to the Arctic 30 (EUR 1,719,000 claimed); EUR 2,461,935.43 for material damage from measures against the Arctic 30 (EUR 3,998,881 claimed); EUR 13,500 for the bank guarantee; and EUR 625,000 reimbursing Russia's share of arbitration deposits paid by the Netherlands. Permanent Court of Arbitration
- 2019Settled€2.7m transferred by the Netherlands to Greenpeace International (ECtHR)Netherlands–Russia settlement of the Arctic Sunrise disputeBilateral settlement (joint statement of 17 May 2019) · International court · Kingdom of the Netherlands → Russian Federation
A 'full and final settlement' without prejudice to the parties' legal positions, reached after a meeting at the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers session in Helsinki (RAPSI, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry). The Netherlands transferred EUR 2,700,159.16 to Greenpeace International, which transferred EUR 605,000 to the 30 applicants (EUR 20,167 each). Commentary says the settlement also covers scientific cooperation in the Russian Arctic and understandings on protest at sea. RAPSI
- 2023Claimant wonBryan and Others v. Russia, no. 22515/14European Court of Human Rights, Third Section (Strasbourg) · International court · Thirty applicants (the Arctic 30) → Russian Federation
Judgment of 27 June 2023 (final 27 September 2023): violations of Article 5 § 1 (arbitrary arrest and detention) and Article 10 (freedom of expression). No monetary award, since the applicants had already received financial compensation; the finding of a violation was held sufficient just satisfaction (5 votes to 2). European Court of Human Rights
- 2012–2012Claimant wonAdministrative fines after the 2012 protest at Gazprom's headquartersCheryomushki magistrate's court, Moscow · Administrative · Prosecutors → A Russian activist and a Polish activist
Fined RUB 11,500 (the Russian activist) and RUB 10,000 (the Polish activist) under Article 20.2 Part 2 of the Administrative Code for a protest at Gazprom's headquarters against Prirazlomnaya drilling. RAPSI
Insurers
What nature saw
Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
- Disputed Could the platform spill oil, and was it prepared to respond?
Accounts
- Disputed Did the arbitral tribunal have jurisdiction over the dispute?
- Disputed Was the Prirazlomnaya platform a vessel, and was the protest piracy?
- Disputed Was the protest lawful and peaceful?
- Disputed Had the platform's spill-response plan approval expired?
- Disputed Was there an offer to Greenpeace to come aboard in August 2012?
- Disputed In what currency and amount was the 2019 settlement paid?
Record
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the terms of the 2019 settlement; the Russian and Dutch foreign ministries described it as 'full and final' without naming the amount (Mediazona; University of Tromsø NCLOS blog).
- Unclear Unclear: whether, when and how much Russia paid the Netherlands; the ECtHR records only the Dutch transfer to Greenpeace International.
- Disputed Figures differ: the settlement amount was reported as 2.7 million euros (Reuters, DutchNews; EUR 2,700,159.16 in the ECtHR judgment) and as '$2.7 million' (Maritime Executive, citing AFP).
- None on record None on record: an oil spill from the Prirazlomnaya platform; the environmental questions raised concern spill-response preparedness and risk.
- Disputed Disputed: whether the platform's spill-response plan approval expired in July 2012 (Greenpeace Russia) and whether the platform can spill (Gazprom's design claims).
- Not disclosed Not disclosed: the full spill-response plan; Greenpeace said in 2012 that Gazprom had released only a summary.
- Insufficient Insufficient: after the charges were changed in October 2013, 'no information has been submitted to the Court as to whether the reasons for their continuing pre-trial detention were reviewed' (ECtHR).
Did the harm stop?
Detainees were released on bail between 20 and 29 November 2013 and the prosecutions were discontinued on 24–25 December 2013; the arrest of the ship was lifted on 6 June 2014 and it left Murmansk on 1 August 2014. Production at Prirazlomnaya started in December 2013.
Who paid?
The Netherlands posted a EUR 3.6 million bond in 2013 and, under the 2019 settlement, transferred EUR 2,700,159.16 to Greenpeace International, of which EUR 605,000 reached the 30 applicants. The tribunal ordered Russia to pay the Netherlands five amounts in 2017; Russia's payment, if any, is not on record.
Sources
Company or project
- Prirazlomnoye field (project page)Gazprom · 2026-10-18 (accessed)
Courts
- Case of Bryan and Others v. Russia, no. 22515/14, judgment (copy hosted by policehumanrightsresources.org)European Court of Human Rights · 2023-06-27
- Press release: Arbitral Tribunal renders Award on the Merits (Arctic Sunrise)Permanent Court of Arbitration · 2015-08-24
- Press release: Tribunal renders Award on Compensation (Arctic Sunrise)Permanent Court of Arbitration · 2017-07-18
- Press release: Arbitral Tribunal holds first procedural meeting (Arctic Sunrise)Permanent Court of Arbitration · 2014-03-21
- Press Release 205: Tribunal orders the release of the Arctic Sunrise and the detained persons upon the posting of a bondInternational Tribunal for the Law of the Sea · 2013-11-22
- Order of 22 November 2013, Case No. 22 (Arctic Sunrise)International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea · 2013-11-22
Press and investigations
- Gazprom starts production at Prirazlomnaya (in Russian)Radio Svoboda · 2013-12-20
- New action to stop Arctic oilThe Barents Observer · 2012-08-27
- Russia and the Netherlands settle the Arctic Sunrise dispute (in Russian)Mediazona · 2019-05-17
- Greenpeace to receive $3 million in settlement with RussiaReuters (via Yahoo News) · 2019-05-17
- Netherlands, Russia agree deal on Arctic Sunrise compensationDutchNews.nl · 2019-05-17
- Russia, Netherlands reach settlement for Greenpeace ship seizureThe Maritime Executive · 2019-05-17
- Greenpeace halts Gazprom vessel in the Arctic (in Russian)Business FM · 2012-08-27
Communities and civil society
- Greenpeace uncovers Gazprom's expired oil spill response planGreenpeace Aotearoa · 2012-08-16
- Greenpeace activists scale Gazprom drilling platform, two arrested in Arctic oil protestGreenpeace International · 2013-09-18
- Settlement of the Arctic Sunrise case between the Netherlands and RussiaGreenpeace International · 2019
Researchers
- Settlement of the Dispute concerning the Arctic Sunrise: a belated recognition of the relevance of the Award on the MeritsUniversity of Tromsø, NCLOS blog (Alex Oude Elferink) · 2019-07-08
Connected cases
- Corporate suits against Greenpeace (TotalEnergies, Shell, Resolute) France, United Kingdom, United States · 2019–2024 Related matter
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Defendant in all three suits
- Russia declares WWF and Greenpeace 'undesirable' organisations Russia · 2023 Related matter
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Declared undesirable and closed in Russia
- ESPO oil pipeline rerouted away from the Baikal shore (2006) Russia · 2005–2008
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: President ordered the reroute; Prime Minister approved the route
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Co-authored a report on the pipeline's harm (Greenpeace Russia)
- WWF Russia (NGO) — here: Commented in 2013 on the lack of a spill-response plan for ice conditions; there: Co-authored a report on the pipeline's harm
- Russia's forest-fire control zones and federal fire-service funding Russia · 2015–2026
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Reserve-fund Order No. 2740-r (2026); Decree No. 382 issued by the President
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Greenpeace Russia: commentary and satellite-based estimates
- WWF Russia (NGO) — here: Commented in 2013 on the lack of a spill-response plan for ice conditions; there: Commentary on zones and funding
- Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics: environmental pledges and the Mzymta valley Russia · 2007–2018
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Host government; Putin and Kozak statements
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Resigned as Olympstroy adviser in 2010 (Greenpeace Russia)
- WWF Russia (NGO) — here: Commented in 2013 on the lack of a spill-response plan for ice conditions; there: Resigned as Olympstroy adviser in 2010
- Avacha Bay marine die-off, Kamchatka, autumn 2020 Russia · 2020–2022
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: NGO; Greenpeace Russia satellite analysis
- WWF Russia (NGO) — here: Commented in 2013 on the lack of a spill-response plan for ice conditions; there: NGO commenting on data publication
- Baikal Natural Territory: expertise exemptions and clear-cutting rules Russia · 2020–2026
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Sets the list of objects under Article 25.1(3); Deputy Prime Minister statements
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Criticised the 2020 law (Greenpeace Russia)
- Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill: closure and waste clean-up Russia · 1966–2026
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Decree No. 1; funded wages and clean-up; named contractors
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Co-applicant against Decree No. 1 (Greenpeace Russia)
- Energy Transfer v Greenpeace (Dakota Access) United States · 2017–2026
- Greenpeace International (NGO) — here: Organisation behind the protest; received EUR 2,700,159.16 under the 2019 settlement; there: Defendant in the North Dakota suits; claimant in the Amsterdam anti-SLAPP case
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Defendant in the federal suit
- Hardwood logging in the Russian Far East and exports to China Russia · 2001–2023
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Officials' statements 2020 and 2023
- WWF Russia (NGO) — here: Commented in 2013 on the lack of a spill-response plan for ice conditions; there: Author of the 2013 report on illegal logging in the Russian Far East
- Khimki forest and the M11 Moscow–St Petersburg toll motorway (km 15–58) Russia · 2007–2025
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Land-transfer order; Medvedev and Ivanov statements
- European Court of Human Rights (Court) — here: Bryan and Others v. Russia, 2023: violations of Articles 5 § 1 and 10; there: Varzhabetyan and Others v. Russia (2023)
- Nornickel Sulphur Programme: SO2 targets, spending and measured emissions at Norilsk and Kola Russia · 2015–2026
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Resolution No. 353 of 12 March 2022; emissions-quota experiment postponed
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Ranked SO2 hotspots using NASA data (August 2019)
- Russia labels WWF Russia a foreign agent, then an undesirable organisation Russia · 2023
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Declared undesirable on 19 May 2023
- WWF Russia (NGO) — here: Commented in 2013 on the lack of a spill-response plan for ice conditions; there: Conservation organisation designated a foreign agent, then an undesirable organisation
- Sakhalin-2 and Sakhalin-1 in 2022: transfer decrees, the ecological-audit deduction clause and write-downs Russia · 2022–2026
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Decree No. 416 and the orders on the stake sale
- Gazprom (Company) — here: Owner of the Prirazlomnaya platform (with Gazprom Neft Shelf); there: Gazprom Sakhalin Holding takes shares; Gazprom group buys Shell's 27.5%
- Sakhalin-2: 2006 approval revocation, Gazprom stake purchase, 2009 damage-claim settlement and lender exits Russia · 2005–2009
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: President Putin present at the December 2006 protocol
- Gazprom (Company) — here: Owner of the Prirazlomnaya platform (with Gazprom Neft Shelf); there: Bought 50% plus one share of SEIC for USD 7.45 billion
- Siberian wildfire season of 2019: Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk and Yakutia Russia · 2019
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Prime Minister ordered arson checks (1 August 2019)
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Greenpeace Russia: funding and damage-accounting commentary
- Talnakh Concentrator tailings facility: wastewater pumped onto the tundra, 2017–2020 Russia · 2017–2024
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Took samples at the discharge on 25 June 2020
- WWF Russia (NGO) — here: Commented in 2013 on the lack of a spill-response plan for ice conditions; there: Reported discharges since 2017 from satellite imagery
- Usinsk pipeline spill (Komi, 1994) and the World Bank and EBRD emergency loans Russia · 1994–2004
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Borrower of both loans; on-lent them to Komineft
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: One of the NGOs consulted in 1995 (World Bank completion report)
- Alliance to End Plastic Waste and Renew Oceans (Ganges) India · 2019–2026
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Its Unearthed unit published the 2024 comparison
- Arbitration tribunal finds UK breached UN sea law over Chagos reserve British Indian Ocean Territory · 2009–2015
- Permanent Court of Arbitration (International organisation) — here: Administered the Annex VII arbitration; awards of 2014, 2015 and 2017; there: Tribunal that found the breach
- Baia Mare cyanide spill Romania · 2000–2009
- European Court of Human Rights (Court) — here: Bryan and Others v. Russia, 2023: violations of Articles 5 § 1 and 10; there: Ruled in Tătar v. Romania (2009)
- Baikal omul industrial fishing ban (from 2017) Russia · 2016–2026
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Funded releases, hatchery and research vessel
- Brent Spar decommissioning controversy (North Sea) United Kingdom · 1995–2019
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Campaigner in the Brent Spar controversy
- Cargill's Turkish factory kept operating despite court annulments Türkiye · 2000
- European Court of Human Rights (Court) — here: Bryan and Others v. Russia, 2023: violations of Articles 5 § 1 and 10; there: Court that found a fair-trial violation
- Chevron, Texaco and the Lago Agrio judgment: the RICO ruling and the Donziger cases Ecuador · 1995–2026
- Permanent Court of Arbitration (International organisation) — here: Administered the Annex VII arbitration; awards of 2014, 2015 and 2017; there: Arbitration tribunal (Permanent Court of Arbitration)
- Coca-Cola plastic pledges and brand audits United States · 2018
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Analyst of the alliance's results
- Cosmos 1408 anti-satellite test (Russia) Russia · 2021
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Conducted the test
- Daldykan River turns red near Norilsk, September 2016 Russia · 2016
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Greenpeace Russia commented on the incident
- Deep-sea mining: TMC, NORI, the NOAA permit and the ISA International waters (Pacific Ocean) · 2022–2026
- International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Court) — here: Ordered release of the vessel and detainees on a EUR 3.6 million bond; there: Tribunal hearing NORI and TOML's case against the ISA
- Dutch nitrogen crisis and farm buyouts Netherlands · 1990–2026
- Government of the Netherlands (Government) — here: Flag state of the Arctic Sunrise; claimant before ITLOS and the PCA tribunal; posted the EUR 3.6 million bond; there: Sets nitrogen policy and funds the voluntary buyouts
- Dutch PFAS soil limit, 2019 Netherlands · 2019
- Government of the Netherlands (Government) — here: Flag state of the Arctic Sunrise; claimant before ITLOS and the PCA tribunal; posted the EUR 3.6 million bond; there: Issued the interim PFAS action framework
- EDF spying on Greenpeace (France) France · 2011–2013
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Organisation placed under surveillance; awarded damages at first instance
- EU bans three neonicotinoid pesticides outdoors in 2018; Turkey follows in part European Union · 2018
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: campaigner and reporter on exports
- EU seal-product ban's Inuit exemption found ineffective Canada · 2014
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Campaigner; apology issuer (unconfirmed)
- Greenpeace ends all engagement with APP and Sinar Mas over deforestation links Indonesia · 2018
- Greenpeace International (NGO) — here: Organisation behind the protest; received EUR 2,700,159.16 under the 2019 settlement; there: ended engagement with APP and Sinar Mas
- Greenpeace ends all engagement with APP Sinar Mas over deforestation Indonesia · 2013–2018
- Greenpeace International (NGO) — here: Organisation behind the protest; received EUR 2,700,159.16 under the 2019 settlement; there: NGO that ended engagement with the company
- Greenpeace leaves the Forest Stewardship Council in 2018 Global · 2018
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Organisation that ended its FSC membership
- Greenpeace says fisheries scientist Ray Hilborn got $3.56m from seafood groups United States · 2003–2016
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: complainant; reported the funding figures
- Hess agreed to buy at least US$750 million of Guyana forest credits Guyana · 2011–2032
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Campaign group that criticised the plan
- Indonesia's forest moratorium: ministry cited 38% less clearing, Greenpeace disputed it Indonesia · 2011–2019
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: critic; published satellite analysis
- Kerch Strait storm, November 2007: Volgoneft 139 fuel-oil spill and sulphur-ship sinkings Russia · 2007–2018
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Government claimants; military clean-up reported
- Lukoil-Komi oil spills in the Usinsk area and the Kolva River, 2011–2023, damage claims and payments Russia · 2011–2023
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Documented chronic spills; third party in the 2012 administrative case
- McKinsey advice to COP28 presidency and fossil clients United Arab Emirates · 2011–2025
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Author of the 2011 report on McKinsey's cost curves
- Netherlands Q fever outbreak and goat sector growth Netherlands · 2021
- Government of the Netherlands (Government) — here: Flag state of the Arctic Sunrise; claimant before ITLOS and the PCA tribunal; posted the EUR 3.6 million bond; there: Government; ordered culls and described Q fever as under control
- Norilsk diesel spill Russia · 2020–2023
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Declared federal emergency; federal budget received the award
- Plastic waste imports into Türkiye (Adana) Türkiye · 2016–2026
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Reported UK plastic at Adana dumping sites (2021)
- Raja Ampat nickel licences revoked Indonesia · 2025
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Campaign organisation; reported more than 500 hectares destroyed
- Resolute Forest Products v Greenpeace Canada · 2012–2024
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Defendant in the US case; campaigner
- Russia's 1 January 2022 ban on exports of unprocessed softwood and valuable hardwood logs Russia · 2020–2025
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Issued the instruction, duties and quotas
- Russia's national carbon-unit system under Federal Law 296-FZ Russia · 2021–2026
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Adopted Decree No. 234 of 2026
- Russian forest-climate projects: RUSAL fire-protection units and Sakhalin larch planting Russia · 2019–2026
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Federal Law 492-FZ and reserve-account rules
- Russian Joint Implementation credits under the Kyoto Protocol, 2009–2012 Russia · 2009–2015
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Approved projects through the Designated Focal Point
- RWE drops 1.4 billion euro claim over Dutch coal ban; Hemweg-8 closure announced Netherlands · 2019–2023
- Government of the Netherlands (Government) — here: Flag state of the Arctic Sunrise; claimant before ITLOS and the PCA tribunal; posted the EUR 3.6 million bond; there: Defendant in the treaty claims; issued the coal ban
- RWE sought €1.4bn from the Netherlands over its coal phase-out Netherlands · 2019–2023
- Government of the Netherlands (Government) — here: Flag state of the Arctic Sunrise; claimant before ITLOS and the PCA tribunal; posted the EUR 3.6 million bond; there: defendant in the RWE claim
- Sakhalin carbon-neutrality experiment under Federal Law 34-FZ Russia · 2022–2028
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Set the payment rate; federal law 34-FZ
- Shell and Greenpeace settle Penguins FPSO case; Greenpeace pays RNLI £300,000 United Kingdom · 2023–2024
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Defendant; paid the RNLI and accepted exclusion zones
- Soviet whaling catches and the reports to the IWC, 1948–1979 Russia · 1948–1994
- Government of Russia (Government) — here: Respondent; did not appear before ITLOS or the PCA tribunal; settled in 2019; there: Supplied original catch data to the IWC Scientific Committee in 1994
- Tukolon reserve sanitary logging conviction in Irkutsk Oblast Russia · 2018–2024
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Prompted the Rosleskhoz check
- Turmeric, neem, basmati, Nap Hal patent revocations India · 2004–2022
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Declared victory on the Nap Hal wheat revocation
- UK packaging recycling notes (PRN) system and fraud cases United Kingdom · 2009–2025
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: NGO; found UK plastic at sites in Adana
- Yakutia wildfire season of 2021: burned area and emissions Russia · 2021
- Greenpeace (NGO) — here: Greenpeace Russia: contested the platform's spill-response plan; there: Greenpeace Russia: satellite-based area and commentary