Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne has called on the government to intervene immediately on behalf of an Australian citizen and resident who have been detained and denied bail in Russia because of their peaceful protest against oil drilling in the Arctic.

"Minister Julie Bishop must immediately contact the Russian Government and make representations to secure their release," Senator Milne said.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne has called on Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to pursue the Russian Government to secure the release of Greenpeace activists, and to make public information about their arrest at gunpoint.

The activists, who include one citizen from Tasmania and a permanent resident from Sydney, were protesting to highlight the dangers of oil spills associated with Artic drilling as ice floes break up due to global warming.