Hours after Russian authorities charge five Greenpeace activists with piracy, their lawyer says they will fight the accusations.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) GREENPEACE LAWYER MIKHAIL KREINDLIN, SAYING:

"Let me say it once again, we are absolutely convinced that the investigation does not, and cannot, have any evidence of any actions which could be qualified as piracy against our activists. Therefore, we will appeal these charges."

The five activists were charged over a protest against Arctic oil drilling at a platform owned by the state-controlled energy company, Gazprom.

Russian officials say the group approached the platform in an icebreaker and two activists tried to scale the rig.

Authorities ordered all 30 people on board the icebreaker to be held for two months pending further investigation.

Greenpeace members in Germany are rallying behind their arrested activists.

They're protesting by chaining themselves to fuel pumps at petrol stations acro