Spanish Court Acquits 11 Greenpeace Activists in Fossil Gas Port Protest

• A Spanish court has acquitted 11 Greenpeace activists accused of public disorder for blocking a fossil gas ship in the port of Sagunto in 2021.
• The judge ruled the demonstration was a peaceful protest for environmental protection, concluding there was no evidence of violence or intimidation required for the criminal charges.

Incident Details

• On October 26, 2021, the Greenpeace vessel 'Esperanza' blocked the entry of the gas carrier 'Merchant,' carrying 125,000 cubic meters of fossil gas, for approximately 10 hours.
• Activists painted anti-gas slogans on the hull and one member chained themselves to the ship's anchor, requiring intervention from the Guardia Civil and port authorities to clear the passage.

Legal Reasoning

• The court found the defendants did not meet the legal threshold for public disorder, which requires violence or threats causing grave public alarm or fear among citizens.
• Guardia Civil officers who testified during the trial confirmed the activists acted passively and avoided confrontation.
• The prosecution initially sought five years in prison, later reduced to two and a half years. The judge noted that while the actions might have constituted "serious disobedience" to authority, the activists could not be convicted on that charge as it was not included in the original indictment.

Administrative Consequences

• While acquitted of criminal charges, the protest resulted in administrative fines: 100,000 euros for the owner and captain of the 'Esperanza' by the Ministry of Transport and 60,000 euros by the Port Authority of Valencia.
• Both administrative sanctions are currently being contested before the Supreme Court.