This evening, 15 hours after boarding Gazprom's Arctic oil platform in the Pechora Sea, six Greenpeace International activists including Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo, voluntarily left the platform.

In freezing temperatures, the climbers were constantly hosed with water by Gazprom workers who appeared more intent on endangering the safety of peaceful activists than operating the platform above.

"To avoid unnecessary risk in these freezing Arctic conditions, the activists have decided to come down. The same cannot be said of Gazprom, which appears determined to continue its reckless drilling programme in one of the most fragile places on Earth.

"The bravery of all of these climbers interrupted a major Arctic oil operation, and by doing so brought the world's attention to this era defining issue. This occupation was just one part of a new movement to save the Arctic that will not be intimidated by water cannons or other forms of corporate brutality."