UPDATE: 18.50pm

NEWPORT man Anthony Perrett is the first Greenpeace activist to have charges against him dropped by Russian authorities.

Ex-Caldicot councillor told BBC Radio Wales will spend Christmas in St Petersburg and then has five days to leave the country.

Mr Perrett, 32, said he and 29 others held for a protest against Arctic oil-drilling were "entirely innocent" of hooliganism.

He said he and his partner Zaharah Ally, also of Newport, will spend Christmas in St Petersburg.

Mr Perrett said: "I will collect my final piece of paper of Thursday but now I've officially had the charges dropped and I've been approved to leave the country.

"So from Thursday I will have five days in which to exit Russia."

CHARGES have been dropped against the first of the Greenpeace Arctic protesters jailed in Russia.

A Greenpeace spokesperson said the first of the so-called "Arctic 30" has had the investigation against him officially dropped.

Greenpeace are applying for exit visas that would allow the group to leave Russia.

The 30 crew, including Newport activist Anthony Perret were arrested in September and held in custody for two months before they were released.

An amnesty law recently passed is expected to clear them of the piracy and hooliganism charges.