South Australian activist Jon Beauchamp returning from Russia A SOUTH Australian activist charged with hooliganism in Russia has told of his relief at being free, 100 days after being arrested over an remote offshore drilling rig protest in the Arctic waters. Speaking for the first time since charges were dropped, Jon Beauchamp condemned Russian authorities for their heavy-handed tactics against Greenpeace's "peaceful" demonstration. Mr Beauchamp, 51, from Mallala, insisted the group of protesters, dubbed the "Arctic 30," had been jailed for a crime "we didn't commit" and which had occurred in international waters. Last night the marine engineer was flying to his hometown of Christchurch, in New Zealand, after being granted an exit visa. He is expected to be reunited in Adelaide early next year with his partner Tania Purtle, 40, who is visiting family in the US city of Minneapolis. In a statement to the Sunday Mail shortly before flying out of St Petersburg, Mr Beauchamp spoke of his relief but attacked Russia for targeting the group's "act of conscience." "It's been 100 days since the Arctic Sunrise was seized in international waters and I'm so relieved that it's finally over and I can return home to my family and friends," he said. I've been overwhelmed by the level of support we have received from millions of people from around the globe and all of them are ultimately the reason why we can return home. We were jailed for a crime we didn't commit. Oil from the Arctic is a dangerous business and something we can't afford to burn. Also released were Colin Russell, 59, from Tasmania, and British-born Australian resident Alex Harris, 27, after authorities dropped charges. Yesterday there were euphoric scenes around the world as protesters arrived home, more than three months after armed Russian special forces stormed the Arctic Sunrise icebreaker. Many of the 28 activists and two freelance journalists, who had tried to scale the Priraz-lomnaya oil platform in the Barents Sea, expressed anger at the Russian government's crude "intimidation" tactics. Mr Russell, a radio operator, is expected to be reunited with his wife Christine and daughter Madeleine in Amsterdam today before returning to Australia in the coming days. Both he and Ms Harris also expressed relief at being released. He added: "I can't wait to get back to normal. Miss Harris added: "It's over, we're finally truly free. I simply cannot find the words to say how grateful and humbled I am by their support. The widespread amnesty, approved by Russia's parliament, has fuelled suggestions the announcement was an attempt by President Vladimir Putin to improve his country's image. The detention of the activists, from 18 countries including Britain, the US, Canada, France and Argentina, in September provoked global protests and tainted Russia's world image. Authorities condemned the "attack" on Russia's first offshore oil platform, owned by state-owned energy giant Gazprom, as a violation of the country's sovereignty. The group was held in "detention centres" across the country for two months after initially being charged with piracy. They were bailed and their hotel bugged.