The Russian government was reportedly unhappy with international legal obligations in their trial of pirates captured off of Somalia — particularly with the possible demand of the pirates to stay in Moscow. Their solution? They let the pirates go . . . 300 miles from shore after removing all of their navigation equipment. They are now presumed dead.
Ten pirates were captured last week after seizing a Russian oil tanker. A government source stated “according to the latest information, the pirates who seized the ‘Moscow University’ oil tanker failed to reach the shore. Evidently, they have all died.”
While the Russians complained about “imperfections in international law,” they seem to have found a solution in essentially tossing them over the side in the middle of the ocean. Notably, other nations have not had such problems in simply trying these pirates in their courts. One such trial is currently on the way in Alexandria (here.
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Experts say piracy will continue to be a problem until an effective government is established on Somalia’s lawless shores.
I’ll bet they don’t have Capt. Bligh with them and will never find Timor.