(SomalilandPress)-The Russian navy operating off Somalia has turned over seven suspected pirates to the breakaway state of Somaliland, where they will stand trial, officials said Sunday.

“The suspects were apprehended by a Russian navy ship and turned over to our coastguards in the His district of Sanag region late Saturday,” local coastguard commander Mohamed Yusuf Otor told reporters.

Otor said the Russians captured the alleged pirates around two weeks ago in the Gulf of Aden.
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“Once the investigation is over they will be brought to court where they will be tried,” local police official Abdulahi Rage told AFP by phone from Somaliland’s main port of Berbera.

Russia has been taking part in international anti-piracy efforts in the Indian Ocean since September 2008.
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Source:MSN

1 COMMENT

  1. Somaliland should have not accepted this. Those who are hunting pirates on sea are doing so to look after their interests. It not Somaliland's interest to detain these criminals when those who they are threat to their interest are not doing much for Somaliland's cause. The cooperation should be mutual.

  2. I partially agree with you. if they are deemed to not be Somaliland citizens then the state should have no part in such trials. However, if these men are Somalilanders then I believe a trial is warranted. If that is the case, I don't believe it matters whether those boats they are pirating belong to states or agency that do not support Somaliland's cause.

  3. If they were nabbed in our territory and waterways which is under our jurisdiction whether they are Somalilanders or not, their trial should take place in Somaliland. Otherwise, hand them over whoever they belong to.