Russia urges more support for states trying piracy suspects
Russia has called for concerted efforts and additional support to Eastern African states that have accepted to host courts to try suspected Somali pirates arrested in the Indian Ocean.
Kenya and the island nation of Seychelles, with the assistance of the EU, US, Canada, UK, China and Denmark, among others, have set up special courts to try piracy suspects.
“Russia takes great interest at finding a solution to this challenge and any other form of organised crime in the region,” said Alexey Saltykov, the deputy head of mission at the Russian embassy in Nairobi yesterday.
Mr Saltykov said his country has been at the forefront in the fight against piracy especially in providing escort to cargo vessels carrying humanitarian relief assistance in the high seas.
Since the governments accepted to try the suspects, Russia says a lot of progress has been achieved.
“It was the idea of President (Dmitry) Medvedev that special mechanisms be established to prosecute these pirates,” he said, “The use of regional courts is a more efficient mechanism.”
“In our continued cooperation with Kenya, we are focusing on the areas of innovation and technology, organised crime and trade.
We are looking for improved cooperation with Kenya and the Indian Ocean states especially in the fight against piracy and terrorism,” said Mr Saltykov.
The UN Security Council in 2008 passed a resolution urging states to commit resources to the fight against rampant piracy in the Indian Ocean.
Since then, Kenya which borders the lawless Somalia — the source of the piracy suspects — has signed multiple agreements to try the suspects arrested outside the country’s territorial waters.
At some point, Kenya was seen to be dithering to try the suspects due to insufficient support from the international community.
However, the EU’s Foreign Affairs envoy Catherine Ashton held talks with President Mai Kibaki in May in which the sticky issues were thrashed out.
In June this year, rich nations provided Sh744 million ($9.3 million) to refurbish the Shimo La Tewa Prison in the coastal city of Mombasa, which now hosts the court house to try piracy suspects.
The prison can handle more than 2,450 prisoners and has been fitted with a computerised case management system and other facilities to allow video evidence to be used.
Opened logistics office
The UN recently opened a logistics office in Mombasa to facilitate the process of taking in new suspects. Kenya currently holds 123 piracy suspects while 18 others have been convicted and sentenced in the country.
Seychelles also agreed to come on board. The island nation convicted 11 Somalis in this month for attempting to hijack a Seychelles coast guard boat last December. The men were each sentenced to 10 years in prison.
