Moscow University: pirates walked the plank?

The pirates seized by a Russian warship off the coast of Somalia have been released because of ''imperfections'' in international law, the Defense Ministry said Friday, it was unclear how the seizure of the tanker might be legally different from last year's alleged hijacking of the Russian-crewed freighter Arctic Sea. That vessel allegedly was seized by pirates in the Baltic Sea off Sweden and went missing for several days before a Russian warship tracked it down off West Africa. The eight alleged pirates were flown to Moscow to face eventual trial. . The Arctic Sea, was suspected last year of transporting Russian missiles destined for Iran. Moscow has said it plans to fulfill a contract to supply the S-300 AA missile to Iran.
The release claim has sparked skepticism -- and even suspicion the pirates might have been murdered. ''If the pirates really were let go, it should have been done in the presence of journalists. If the pirates were killed, a heroic version would have to be thought up,'' Mikhail Voitenko said.



Authorities initially said the pirates would be brought to Russia to face criminal charges for hijacking a Russian oil tanker. But Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Alexei Kuznetsov told The Associated Press on Friday that the pirates had been released.

Kuznetsov declined to elaborate on the purported legal flaws that prompted the release and


Mikhail Voitenko, editor of the Russian online Marine Bulletin, said the release strained credulity and instead sparked suspicion the pirates had all been killed

''There is no more stupid version than the one that has been proposed to us -- that there was no sense in dealing with the pirates and that in Russia there are no suitable laws for convicting them,'' he wrote.


The pirates boarded the tanker Moscow University on Wednesday. They were arrested Thursday after special forces from a Russian warship stormed the tanker. A gunbattle ensued in which one pirate was killed; 10 others were arrested.

The warship opened with warning fire from large-caliber machine guns and a 30mm artillery complex, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Arctic Sea: Sold, web buzz

Arctic Sea current owner sold off the ship. Infamous cargo ship Arctic Sea, which were allegedly assaulted last summer, Pirates of the Baltic Sea, an exchange of 2.3 million dollars for the owner. here
"The award is to be located, according to a sales agent at the equivalent of approximately 1.69 million euros. The buyer is not known. here

Google translation from Estonian and German, from seemingly, former chief editor of the Maritime Bulletin - Sovfracht Mikhail Voitenko.

" S-300 on board the Arctic Sea ...a complete lie,"

"The presence of S-300 on board the Arctic Sea cargo ship is a complete lie,"
Russia has until recently delayed the implementation of a 2007 deal with Iran on the supply of S-300s. The contract is worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Speaking in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed media speculation about S-300 missiles on board the Arctic Sea as "groundless"; reports that the ship had illegal arms on board were "absolutely untrue".

"The best means to apply outside pressure on Iran's decision-making process lie not in isolating Tehran or threats of resorting to force, but in involving it in an important international cooperation."

But see The ministry said that, when the ship was intercepted, its captain claimed it was the North Korean vessel Chendin-2, and was headed from Havana to Sierra Leone with a cargo of palm wood.

It said North Korea had asserted that was impossible, saying the Chendin-2 was docked at an Angolan port at the time.
And"The vessel had all the necessary modern means of communication and emergency alarms, and was located in waters where ordinary mobile telephones work," said Mikhail Voitenko, editor of the Russian maritime journal Sovfrakht.

Mikhail Voitenko believes Nato knew exactly what had happened to the Maltese-flagged Arctic Sea.

A Nato spokesman said the alliance had been in contact with Russia throughout the crisis, but would not say anything more.

"Arctic Sea" in Novorossiisk in 12 days

Authorities say the "Arctic Sea" will arrive in the port of Novorossiisk in mid-September with the four remaining crew members at which point a more thorough investigation will take place.

"There is something on board they don't want anyone to see," says Mikhail Voitenko by phone from a hotel in Istanbul. He says that by reporting the missing ship he "spoiled the whole business for somebody" and now "they just want revenge, to smash me."

Arctic Sea: White Nights Adventure

In areas of high latitude, Russia, Sweden, Finland, when sunsets are late, sunrises are early and darkness is never complete, the White Nights are a time of celebration. 24 July and following are White Nights, a time of carefree frolicking.
Crew members have confirmed details about the hijacking that were reported earlier.

Актуально
Продолжается расследование уголовного дела о похищении экипажа судна «Arctic Sea»
20.08.2009
Главное следственное управление Следственного комитета при прокуратуре России продолжает расследование уголовного дела по факту похищения граждан Российской Федерации - экипажа судна «Arctic Sea», возбужденного по признакам преступления, предусмотренного п. «а» ч. 3 ст. 126 УК РФ (похищение человека, совершенное организованной группой).

В ходе допросов члены экипажа судна пояснили, что к борту «Arctic Sea» в шведских территориальных водах подошла скоростная надувная лодка, в которой находилось 8 человек в черной одежде с надписью на спине «POLICIA». Они поднялись на борт судна и, угрожая оружием, потребовали от экипажа беспрекословного выполнения всех их распоряжений.

В результате предпринятых усилий моряками ВМФ России экипаж судна был освобожден, 8 неизвестных лиц, захвативших судно, задержаны.

В настоящее время 11 членов экипажа судна и лица, подозреваемые в его похищении, доставлены в Москву и с ними проводятся следственные действия.

Судно «Arctic Sea», с 4 членами экипажа в данный момент находится на дрейфе в 200 морских милях от островной линии Кабо-Верде.

Расследование уголовного дела продолжается.
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