Kovos su piratavimu jūroje teisiniai aspektai

LTStraipsnyje analizuojama piratavimo jūroje kaip nusikaltimo pagal tarptautinę teisę samprata, probleminiai jos aspektai, piratų laivų ir piratavimu įtariamų asmenų sulaikymo pagrindų, taikytinos teisės klausimai, aptariamos piratavimu įtariamų asmenų nebaudžiamumo priežastys, įskaitant pabėgėlio teisinio statuso taikymo piratams galimybę.

ENThe article analyses the concept of maritime piracy as a crime under international law, its problematic aspects, problems related to the grounds of arrest of suspected pirate ships and suspected pirates, considers the reasons of impunity of suspected pirates including possible of application of refugee legal status to a pirate. Piracy as a crime under international law has to fulfil place, intent and object requirements. Many acts of piracy occur in territorial waters and consequently such an act will not be considered piracy under international law. Moreover, suspected pirate ships can only be arrested on the high seas and this complicates suppression of piracy by third states because military operations are not allowed in territorial waters. While international law allows states to arrest and prosecute persons suspected of piracy, it does not afford any special status or legal rules for their prosecution. Only states following standards of international human rights law have the right to determine the rules for arresting and prosecuting persons suspected of piracy. Efforts by states to suppress piracy have not given expected results yet. Furthermore, state practice shows that there is a tendency not to release detained suspected pirates or to transfer them to other states for prosecution. Legal environment must be improved both on the international and national levels to fight piracy. Therefore, in order to suppress piracy development, international and nationals rules, enhancement of cooperation between states and creation of common mechanism of prosecution are essential.