Pirates die when Russian navy turns them back to shore

Nepal News.Net
Tuesday 11th May, 2010

A group of Somali pirates have died after being captured and then set free, to find their way back to shore in a small boat without navigation aids.

The pirates, who were captured by the Russian Navy last week, were released after being involved in the seizure of a Russian oil tanker.

Marines from the Russian destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov had managed to free the tanker and its crew in a dawn operation last week.

The pirates were set free after Russian officials found there was no legal basis on which they could be held.

The same officials said that the pirates had been put to sea in a boat 550km offshore, with all weapons and navigational equipment removed.

A top naval official has insisted the Russian navy personnel onboard the Marshal Shaposhnikov had offered to accompany the pirates to within 20 kilometres of the shore, but the offer of escort was turned down.

Rights groups have said the Russian navy had acted improperly in the affair, but the Somalian government has defended the action, saying the Russian crew acted effectively and decisively to ensure not one crew member of the captured tanker was hurt.

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