FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop has called on Russia to treat Australian Greenpeace activist Colin Russell, who is facing piracy charges, with fairness.
Ms Bishop has met with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Bali.
"I registered our concern about the charges and also our desire to ensure that he's afforded full due legal process and consular assistance," she told reporters in Bali's Nusa Dua.
Worldwide protests are being held on Saturday for the so-called "Arctic 30", who were detained in the port city of Murmansk after their ship the Arctic Sunrise was boarded at gunpoint by Russian authorities.
Mr Russell, from Tasmania, could face up to 15 years in prison if Russian authorities persist with the piracy charge.
He was among 30 Greenpeace activists charged with the offence for their roles in a protest against oil drilling in the Arctic Circle last month.
Mr Russell's wife Christine addressed a rally in Hobart on Saturday, calling on the Australian government to support the Dutch government's legal efforts to initiate arbitration in the United Nations to secure the crew members freedom.
"I urge Minister Bishop and Prime Minister Abbott to support Colin, with a letter of guarantee to help secure his release," Mrs Russell told the protest.
His daughter Madeleine said his irrepressible sense of humour would keep his spirits up in the jail cell.
Ms Bishop said she is taking a keen interest in the case, which is shaping up as her first major consular challenge since taking over as foreign minister.
She says Australian officials have met with Mr Russell in recent days and plan to do so again soon.
"I understand he is well, his conditions of detention are adequate," she said.
Asked if she believed the piracy charge was too extreme, Ms Bishop said: "We're seeking advice as to whether this charge is appropriate.
"I do note that (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin said in one press conference that they were clearly not pirates," she said.
"It's a very serious charge."
At a Melbourne protest, around 100 people chanted "Free the Arctic 30" on the steps of Flinders Street Station.
Others circulated a petition to put more pressure on the federal government to take serious action.
Organiser Julien Vincent said the piracy charge was ridiculous and Greenpeace never expected a protest involving ropes and banners could balloon into such a serious incident.
"They are being detained on a charge that is completely unjustified," he said.
"You can understand why there is such an outpouring of support."
Similar rallies were also held in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.
A British-born Australian resident and a New Zealand man who lives in South Australia have also been charged.
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