ANTHONY Perrett’s partner has told the Argus this morning of her happiness and relief to hear of his release – but still worried for the serious charges remaining.

Mr Perrett’s partner Zaharah Ally, who has spoken to him by phone, said he had gotten on with his Russian cell mates but had was glad to be out of his small cell not big enough to walk around in.

Mr Perrett was one of 30 activists and journalists on the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise detained by Russian authorities after a protest at an oil rig.

The tree surgeon, who once served as a member of Caldicot Town Council, was released earlier today after a court in St Petersburg granted him bail earlier this week.

Ms Ally said she was “happy and just really relieved” at the news of his release, but “also worried for the future”.

“The legal case is still ongoing. It still says very serious charges of piracy and hooliganism. So even though Anthony has been granted bail from the detention centre he still will have to remain in St Petersburg," she said.

He could still face as much as 15 years in jail under the charge of piracy.

It was unlikely that he will able to come home right now, she said, with Mr Perrett likely to need to report to the investigative committee in the city.

Ms Ally said Mr Perrett had suffered a very “sleepless night”: “He said it was good to be out because his cell was very small and he wasn’t able to walk around. He was looking forward to just being outside”.

Conditions in the prison Mr Perrett was detained in Murmansk had been were “very very difficult”, said Ms Ally. “He said conditions in St Petersburg had been a lot better. He was very grateful to actually get on with his Russian cell mates that he had.”

But Ms Ally said Mr Perrett has been “getting very desperate” at how unclear the legal system was.